You may have heard that Jelly Roll has been filling in as host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week. And over the last three days, he's poked fun at President Donald Trump, cleared up rumors about his weight loss, and hung out with his Hollywood friends.
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But last night, the "I Am Not Okay" star used the show's monologue to talk about "some very personal stuff," namely, his refusal to talk politics at the Grammy Awards in February.
Jelly Roll Said He's "Watched People Decide" Who He Is
After winning his three Grammys, Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, was asked about his political views. He said, "People shouldn't care to hear my opinion. I'm a dumb redneck."
The singer added that he felt "so disconnected from what's happening." But his refusal to comment on the issues allowed others to define who he is. And his jokes at the expense of President Trump earlier this week have only added fuel to everyone's fire.
"For the last six months, I've watched people decide who I am, what I am, what I believe, what I support, and what I don't support. And I felt that even more this week, just because I told a couple of jokes," he explained.
Jelly Roll added, "I got handed an award that I've been dreaming about since I was a child. And immediately after, I was asked to make what I felt at the time was a political stance."
Jelly Roll Couldn't Vote
While Jelly Roll admitted that he "fumbled" his words at the Grammys, he explained that he didn't want anything he said to be "immediately taken as a political statement."
"Ironically, by trying so hard not to make a political statement, I became one," he said. "I spent my entire career trying not to belong to a political party. Partly because until March of this year, I wasn't even allowed to vote. But now that I have that right, it's one I plan to exercise this coming November."
Jelly Roll went on to describe his political beliefs. He said they were "simple." He wants everyone from the "recovering addict" to the "felon who is trying to change his life" to feel represented.
"That night at the Grammys, I had an opportunity to speak up for people who were scared, hurting, and felt like nobody was speaking for them. I had a microphone, and I didn't use it the right way," the singer added.
Jelly Roll then urged viewers to work toward finding common ground.
"Hurting hearts are more important than poll numbers," he said. "I got to stand on that stage that night and win a Grammy. And that is the American dream... the American dream should be for everybody."
You can watch Jelly Roll's monologue below.
