Earlier this month, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated a century of country music with a star-studded three-hour event. Opry 100: A Live Celebration featured performances from some of the biggest names in country music. Jelly Roll was slated to join Ashley McBryde for a rendition of “Jackson” to honor June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash. However, viewers were surprised when McBryde took the stage with Post Malone.

No one gave an explanation for his absence from the show. Jelly Roll was silent about missing the all-star celebration on social media. Finally, almost a week after the March 19 event, he revealed why he wasn’t there and how he felt about missing it.

Jelly Roll on Missing Opry 100: A Live Celebration

Earlier this week, Jelly Roll appeared on The Pivot podcast to talk about his life and career. During the conversation, one of the hosts pointed out that the “Save Me” singer worked two specific requests into his recording contract. He wanted to be in the local newspaper and play at the Grand Ole Opry. He then revealed that Jelly missed the event because he was too sick to perform.

“It breaks my soul,” Jelly Roll said about missing the show. “My uncle Beuford used to tell me this story. He called his father, which was my grandfather, one time, and he said, ‘I can’t come into work today, I’m sick.’ All my grandfather said was, ‘That’s good. Working sick builds character,’ and hung up the phone,” he recalled. “So I pride myself on sick shows, especially if I’m really sick. I’m like, ‘I’m about to go out here and go,” he added.

“I’ve canceled one show in the last five years because of an ailment, and it was the Grand Ole Opry 100. It just broke my heart, man. I just couldn’t break this fever, and I never had a fever that kept me down like that. I probably slept like 20 hours,” he explained.

“I hate any time I gotta miss a show. I hate any time I gotta miss almost anything. I’ve got FOMO anyway,” Jelly Roll added.

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