For Josh Ross, every artist he’s met on the road has taught him something new. From Dierks Bentley, it’s the art of balancing work and the outdoors. From Nickelback, it’s patience and longevity. But when it comes to Jelly Roll, Ross says the lesson hits deeper. The “Son of a Sinner” singer taught him how to take the hardest chapters of life and turn them into something powerful enough to lift an entire arena.
“I feel like Jelly Roll is so new and watching how he takes a lot of life lessons and has turned that into the power of music and what that can do for people,” Ross, 31, said in an interview with Country Now published on Wednesday, September 25. “I’ve really learned that from him.”
The Canadian country singer isn’t the only one to praise Jelly Roll, 40, either. His impact has been felt by several others in the industry, including Ashley McBryde who was his opening act for his 2023 tour.
“He’s so loving and so inviting. I love being on the road with him,” McBryde, 42, said during an interview with radio station 99.5 QYK in October 2023. “The culture he has created with his band, crew, and everything about that is really welcoming.”
She continued, “He told me my first day, ‘You’ll never feel more at home on any tour than you will on this tour.’ And I thought at first, ‘Aw, I don’t know, I’ve toured with some really amazing tours.’ He told me, ‘You’ll never feel more at home with any fanbase than you are with mine,’ and he’s right. His fan base is so diverse, and at first, when you look at a snapshot of it, you go, ‘These people don’t all belong under the same canopy right now,’ but they do. And that feeling while you’re watching a show is amazing.”
Luke Bryan has also praised Jelly Roll’s “inspiring” nature when speaking with Tase of Country earlier this year.
“He’s like everybody’s preacher,” the “Country Girl” singer, 49, said. “He lights up the room and you feel his heart.”
RELATED: The Heartbreaking Health Secret Jelly Roll Revealed Before Dropping 200 Pounds
While Jelly Roll is one of the most popular stars in country music right now, he’s always been clear that his path wasn’t an easy one. Before he was headlining arenas, the Nashville native battled addiction and found himself in and out of jail. Fortunately, his love for music paved a way out of his previous lifestyle and has given him the chance to be a mentor for others along the way.
