Walking the red carpet at the 2025 ACM Awards, Jelly Roll entered with three major nominations — Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for Beautifully Broken. But for the Nashville native, the evening wasn’t just about trophies — it was about testimony.
Sharing the spotlight with rising star Shaboozey, the two delivered one of the night’s most powerful performances with their emotionally charged duet, “Amen.” The song — originally released as part of the Complete Edition of Shaboozey’s album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going — explores the artists’ struggles with faith, guilt, and healing. With the crowd hushed and hearts open, Jelly Roll and Shaboozey’s voices filled the arena, testifying not only through lyrics but lived experience.
Shaboozey, who also earned a nomination for “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” continues to earn praise for his genre-blending sound, while Jelly Roll’s journey from incarceration to industry stages has become a beacon of redemption.
That journey now stands at a pivotal moment.
Just days before the ACMs, the Tennessee Board of Parole recommended Jelly Roll for a pardon, a move that could officially clear his criminal record. “This was incredible,” he shared. “I pray this goes through. But today was special for me, regardless.”
No matter the outcome, Jelly Roll’s message was loud and clear: change is real, redemption is possible, and music can be the bridge between the two.
