Country music star Jelly Roll has addressed backlash after meeting President-elect Donald Trump during the UFC 309 event on November 16 at Madison Square Garden. Speaking candidly on his wife Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast, the “Halfway to Hell” singer shared his perspective on the encounter, respect for the presidency, and his efforts to advocate for social causes.
Respecting the Office, Not the Politics
For Jelly Roll, meeting the President-elect was about honoring the position, not politics. “There’s not a chance in hell that I’m not going to meet the president-elect. I don’t care,” he said, adding that he would feel the same excitement about meeting any president, including Joe Biden.
The singer emphasized his nonpartisan stance, saying, “I’m not political! People who actually know me know I’m also one of the old-school dudes. I like to talk about things I’m passionate about… but I don’t know enough about politics to act like I know what anybody’s standing for policy-wise.”
Jelly Roll shared that his upbringing didn’t include a strong push to vote, but it did instill respect for the presidency. “Meeting President Trump was cool,” he said. “Ultimately, I don’t really care [about] any blowback I get about it.”
Bunnie Xo agreed, calling it an honor to meet any leader in such a position of power.
Advocating for a Cause Beyond Politics
Jelly Roll’s respect for the office extends to his advocacy work. Earlier this year, he testified before Congress about the fentanyl crisis, pushing for legislation to curb the drug’s supply and distribution. “I didn’t know which side any of [the senators] were on… I’m trying to bring things together here, man. I’m gonna work with whatever administration is in play, for the rest of my life. Because my cause will always be what it is.”
Healing from a Troubled Past
Reflecting on his journey, Jelly Roll spoke about his time in prison and the pain he caused in his earlier life. “I brush over 10, 12, 15 years of living an extremely crazy, narcissistic, selfish lifestyle in a two-second sentence in an interview,” he said. “The truth is, there was a lot of pain in there. I hurt a lot of people.”
While he’s made peace with his past and continues to work on forgiving himself, he acknowledged that not everyone has moved on. “No matter how much I’ve changed, they still watch and are mad that I’m successful. I understand that. But I’m doing better at letting go of the past and realizing that I don’t owe that part of me anything.”
Looking Ahead
As he continues his music career and activism, Jelly Roll remains steadfast in his commitment to make a positive impact. Whether advocating for policy changes or simply meeting influential figures like the President-elect, the “Son of a Sinner” artist is focused on bridging divides and creating lasting change.
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