Jelly Roll Joins ‘American Idol’ as First-Ever ‘Artist in Residence’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Country music sensation Jelly Roll has signed up for ABC’s “American Idol” as their inaugural “resident artist”. The deal sees him appearing on the show during the “Hollywood Week” episodes, with further appearances planned throughout the entire season. (As per the network.)

Previously, Jelly Roll functioned as a visiting mentor and entertainer on “American Idol” during its stop at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii last year. Now, for the first time ever, Jelly Roll is designated as the “American Idol” “artist in residence,” transforming into a constant presence this season. In this role, Jelly Roll will collaborate closely with aspiring Idol contestants, offering them valuable insights on how to successfully navigate their journey.

Last season, Jelly Roll was a guest mentor and performer on “American Idol,” making an appearance during the show’s visit to Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. This time around, as the inaugural “American Idol” “artist in residence,” Jelly Roll will be a regular feature this season, working intimately with hopeful Idol contestants, sharing practical advice on how to maneuver through their journey on the show.

Jelly Roll is set to make his debut on “American Idol” as the show experiences a shift in its judging panel after seven years – this being the first change since the program moved to ABC. Carrie Underwood takes over from Katy Perry, now sitting alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on the judges’ panel.

American Idol” Season 23, which marks its eighth season on the ABC network, is set to debut on March 9th. A sneak peek at the upcoming season will be aired following the Oscars telecast on March 2nd. Here’s an exclusive first glimpse of Jelly Roll meeting with “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest as he takes on his new role on the show:

(Note: The word “jelly” in the original text refers to a specific artist, not the food item.)

Last year, Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, unveiled his newest album titled “Beautifully Broken,” which soared to the top of the Billboard 200 chart and received glowing reviews from critics. In 2023, he followed up with the release of the successful album “Whitsitt Chapel.

As a passionate moviegoer, I’m thrilled to share the recognition Jelly Roll has been receiving in the world of country music. In 2024, he was nominated for Best New Artist, and his song “I Am Not Okay” earned nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo at the 2025 Grammys. Moreover, his duet with Launey Wilson, “Save Me,” was nominated for Best Duo/Group Performance in the same year.

In 2023, Jelly Roll swept the CMT Music Awards with three wins. His triumphs included Billboard’s Breakthrough Award and the People’s Choice Award for Male Country Artist of the Year. This talented artist is certainly making waves in the industry!

His smash hit track “Save Me” secured a platinum accreditation from the RIAA, and it stayed at the top of Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart for an impressive 28 weeks. It also bagged an ACM award for the category of Music Event of the Year. This success further paved the way for the ABC News documentary titled “Save Me.

Here’s a look at some of Jelly Roll’s highlights as a guest mentor last season:

The show ‘American Idol’ originates from 19 Entertainment, a joint venture between Fremantle and Sony Pictures TV. Megan Wolflick serves as both Executive Producer and Showrunner, while Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman hold executive producer positions at 19 Entertainment. The series is distributed globally by Fremantle.

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2025-02-04 21:16