After a turbulent youth that found him in and out of prison, Jelly Roll's winning streak continued at the 2024 CMT Music Awards on Sunday (April 7) at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The country icon took to the stage three times during the awards show to accept trophies, winning every award he was up for that night.
“I want to thank my beautiful wife and my daughter at home,” Jelly Roll said after winning his first on-camera award, for CMT performance of the year. I sang 'Need a Favor' for the first time on national television here…that last year you changed my life in every way I ever thought my life could.”
Later that night, Minnie Driver revealed that Jelly Roll won Male Video of the Year for “Need a Favor”. Shaking his head in disbelief, Jelly Roll kissed his wife, Bunnie XO, hugged Cody Johnson (the two friends even kissed on the cheeks) and took the stage as the crowd erupted in cheers.
“My brother, Cody Johnson – 'The Painter,' that was one of the best music videos I've ever seen in my life,” expressed Jelly Roll after beating Johnson for the award. “I'm having one of the best nights of my life,” he noted. But the hitmaker's speech wasn't just about himself. True to form, he gave an emotional shout-out to the current residents of one of the prisons he spent time growing up in, as well as those who spent time in Austin's juvenile detention center. “It is important that I stand here tonight and represent those who seek second chances. The guys back at the Metro-Davidson Detention Center and the guys down here at the Austin Juvenile Detention Center watching tonight, cheers to all of you boys. You can be that guy. You can change. You can turn it around. I promise you can, baby.”
Jelly Roll returned to the stage after winning the video of the year award, which was presented to him by Billy Bob Thornton.
“Billy Bob Thornton just gave me my third trophy of the night, yeah!” cried. “Cody Johnson, I'm not going to tell you anything up here, I'm not going to tell you on the phone, but I love you bro. You are my favorite cowboy forever and one of my best friends in the business. Kelsea Ballerini, you know how I feel about you – go baby.'
The star also thanked his manager, John Meneilly, his publicist, Jennifer Vessio, his label, Stoney Creek, and of course his wife, Bunnie XO. “I'm blessed to have you as a best friend, I'm blessed to have you as a partner,” he said. He also provided a good-natured heads-up to co-host Gayle King CBS Mornings. “Gale King, I'm going to be a little late in the morning, because we're going to have a party, Austin.”
After that, he took the stage one last time to drop a rendition of “Halfway to Hell,” a top 15 Country Airplay hit from his album Whitsitt Chapel.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/jelly-roll-juvenile-detention-2024-cmt-awards-halfway-to-hell-1235651066/
