In one of the most heartfelt moments of CMA Fest’s kickoff night, Jelly Roll turned the Grand Ole Opry into a stage for healing—and hope.
On Thursday, June 5, the country star invited students from Ruby Major Elementary School to join him for a moving performance of his hit single “I Am Not Okay”—a song that’s become a powerful anthem for mental health awareness.
The kids first caught Jelly Roll’s attention earlier this year when they performed the song for students at Antioch High School following a tragic school shooting. Touched by their gesture, Jelly Roll knew he had to find a way to sing with them someday. And what better place than country music’s most sacred stage?
“I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since I heard about these kids,” Jelly Roll told the Opry crowd. “They turned this song into something bigger than me. Tonight is about them.”
As the children walked onstage, he greeted each one with a high five before launching into the emotional ballad. Halfway through, Jelly Roll stepped back, giving the spotlight fully to the young voices who finished the song with grace, power, and heart.
Fans in the audience wiped away tears, and social media lit up with praise for the moment that many are already calling one of the most meaningful of CMA Fest 2025.
Originally released as the lead single from his Beautifully Broken album, “I Am Not Okay” topped the Country Airplay chart, went Platinum, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song. But on this night, it became something more: a beacon of resilience, sung by the next generation.
Watch the unforgettable performance below.
