Jelly Roll was asked about ICE in an interview after the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday, but had no comment.
The country singer quipped that “people shouldn’t care about hearing his opinion” about “what’s going on in this country right now.”
The songwriter, whose real name is Jason Deford, admitted he had been “disconnected” from politics, noting that he “didn’t have a cell phone in 18 months.”
“I’m a stupid redneck. Like, I don’t watch enough movies,” said the 41-year-old, who won three Grammy Awards over the weekend.
“I grew up in a crazy, chaotic home. I didn’t even know politics was really real until I was in my mid-20s and went to prison. When you grow up in a family of drug addicts, that’s how isolated (you are),” he said.
“Do you think we had a common opinion on what was going on in local politics?” Jellyroll asked. “It’s like, we’re just trying to figure out a way to survive, dude.”
But he “loves to talk about this stuff,” so he promised on social media in the coming days that he “has a lot to say” about Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The “Need a Favor” artist explained, “I’m going to address this issue next week and you’re all going to hear exactly what I have to say in the loudest and clearest way I’ve ever spoken about this in my life. So I’m looking forward to it on the internet.”
When Jelly Roll defended shaking hands with President Trump at a UFC event in December 2024, he similarly explained on his wife Bunny XO’s Dumb Blonde podcast that he “didn’t grow up in a voting culture.”
At the time, he said, “I don’t know enough about politics to act like I know what’s going on or what someone stands for policy-wise. I really don’t.”
It’s worth noting that Jelly Roll wasn’t one of the many A-listers, from Justin Bieber to Joni Mitchell, who wore an “ICE OUT” pin on the red carpet this weekend.
Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Olivia Dean, Kehlani and more made headlines for blasting federal agencies and praising immigrants throughout the night.
Meanwhile, Jelly Roll won the award for Best Contemporary Country Album for a speech that asserted that “Jesus is for everyone” and “is not the property of any political party…(or) music label.”
he told viewers: “There was a moment in my life when all I had was a Bible this big, a radio the same size, and a 6-foot-by-8-foot cell.…I believe that music has the power to change my life and that God has the power to change my life.”
Jelly Roll, who also won trophies for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, had more words of praise for their “beautiful” partner.
“My life would never have been the same without you,” he gushed about Bunny XO on stage. “I would have ended up dead or in jail. If it wasn’t for you and Jesus, I would have killed myself. Thank you for that.”
The couple, who married in 2016, packed on the PDA as they walked the evening’s red carpet.
