Up to date Aug. 28, 2026, 10:45 a.m. ET
Jelly Roll is clarifying his political opinions after taking digs at President Donald Trump throughout his stint as host of “Jimmy Kimmel Reside!“
The nation star addressed the backlash his feedback about Trump garnered and the suggestion that “these Jimmy Kimmel writers have secretly been pulling the strings and forcing this good previous nation boy to poke enjoyable at our commander-in-chief.”
“However let’s be actual about this, y’all,” the “Want a Favor” singer stated throughout his last, 18-minute monologue Thursday, Aug. 27. “Do you suppose I might take orders from some sweaty little dork named Josh? No, I used to be simply telling it like it’s. And for some motive, that appeared to freak lots of people out.”
The 41-year-old, who has beforehand sidestepped questions on his political opinions, put it out within the open.
“It’s humorous that earlier than this week everyone thought I used to be MAGA. And now they suppose I am some form of liberal snowflake,” Jelly Roll continued. “Internet hosting Jimmy Kimmel’s present does not imply I’ve all of Jimmy Kimmel’s politics. Certain, I lean left on some issues, however like most people I am fairly down the center.”
The rapper continued, “I’m a Christian. I’m a rustic music singer. I am a farmer. I am a bow hunter. And a lot of the issues I eat, I want to get with a stick and a string. That is the reality.”
The feedback come months after the “Son of a Sinner” singer appeared on the Grammy Awards and declined a reporter’s query about politics. He stated he was a “dumb redneck” and admitted to being checked out of politics, however promised to share “precisely what I’ve to say in probably the most loud and clear manner I’ve ever spoken in my life.”
Jelly Roll stated he has “watched individuals determine who I’m, what I’m, what I imagine, what I assist and what I do not assist” due to it.
Watch Jelly Roll’s full monologue on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Reside’
“I felt that much more this week, simply because I advised a few jokes,” he added. “I used to be requested to make what I felt on the time was a political stance. I fumbled my phrases. Trying again, I do not essentially remorse asking for extra time earlier than I spoke. I want extra individuals took extra time earlier than they spoke. However I do want I had discovered the phrases to specific my coronary heart just a bit bit sooner.”
He stated he “was afraid that something I used to be going to say was going to be instantly taken as a political assertion. And, sarcastically, by attempting so exhausting to not make a political assertion, I turned one.”
Jelly Roll, who has been open about being a convicted felon, stated he lately had his proper to vote restored, and that he plans to train that proper in November. The chance makes him wish to “communicate for the unstated for,” he stated.
Jelly Roll addresses Grammys political query, Trump handshake
“That evening on the Grammys, I had a possibility to talk up for individuals who have been scared, hurting, and felt like no one was talking for them. I had a microphone, and I did not use it the fitting manner,” he continued, getting emotional. “So I’m going to attempt to do the fitting factor proper now as a result of human dignity is not Republican nor Democrat. Compassion is not left wing and mercy is not proper wing. Ache and therapeutic know no partisanship.”
He added, “[Jesus] gave us two commandments. ‘Love God with all of your coronary heart and love your neighbor as your self.’ That is what I ought to have stated that evening. There wasn’t a political celebration exemption. It didn’t require us to know what nation you have been born in. There wasn’t a sentence afterward that stated, ‘Until you are afraid of them.’ It simply stated, ‘Love your neighbor.'”
Along with his Grammy’s response, Jelly Roll was additionally criticized for shaking Trump’s hand at a UFC occasion in 2024. He defined that as a result of his father, who died in 2019, was a veteran, “I’ll all the time shake the hand of the sitting president of america when requested.” However “a handshake is just not an endorsement. A dialog is just not an allegiance, and a joke is just not a political viewpoint.”
Jelly Roll added that he “would by no means be so afraid of being referred to as political once more.”
“We could disagree. We could argue. We could vote utterly. However let’s attempt to not let the couple of issues we disagree about neglect the a whole lot and a whole lot of issues we’ve in widespread,” he stated earlier than tearing up. “My daddy was proper about that. And he was proper about one thing else: It’s by no means too late to do the fitting factor. And I hope that tonight, whereas he is wanting down from Heaven, I made him proud.”
