Jelly Roll is opening up about the personal experiences that shaped his new album, Beautifully Broken, which was released on October 11.
During an interview on SiriusXM’s The Highway with host Ania Hammar, the 39-year-old singer candidly discussed how his time in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) influenced his song “I Am Not Okay.” Hammar expressed her emotional response to the track and others on the album, prompting Jelly Roll to share his own journey with substance abuse.
“I don’t fully remember my first real meeting because I was court-ordered to attend at around 14, so it’s a bit hazy,” Jelly Roll said. However, he recalled the first moment he found “solace” in those meetings and how they introduced him to the transformative concepts that have shaped his life.
“I’ve never been more inspired than when leaving an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meeting,” he noted, adding, “I think everybody should experience one, even if you’ve never drunk in your life. The good meetings are like great theater; they’ll make you listen, learn, laugh, and cry.”
The insights gained from these meetings have fueled Jelly Roll’s songwriting, particularly his emphasis on lyrical storytelling. “You hear how honest it was?… I’m a lyric guy,” he explained. “Stories and storytelling songs have always been my favorite.”
Beautifully Broken features several singles, including “Liar” and “Get By,” which has been chosen as the anthem for ESPN’s 2024 College Football Season. The latter track addresses overcoming life’s challenges and resilience in the face of adversity. Furthermore, Jelly Roll announced that all net profits from pre-orders of the album through his U.S. web store will be donated to organizations that support mental health and addiction recovery, with fans already contributing $850,000, as shared in an Instagram video.
In an interview with The New York Times Magazine, Jelly Roll emphasized his intention behind his projects. “I’m looking for songs that have a purpose,” he said. “When I put out a song under the name Jelly Roll, I ask myself, ‘Why?’ It has nothing to do with financial gain. I’m past that stage. Now, it really is about the ‘why.’”
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