Singer Jelly Roll explained Sunday after the Grammy Awards that he’s a “dumb redneck” and people shouldn’t care about his opinion when it comes to politics despite declaring “Jesus is for everybody” during his acceptance speech earlier in the night.
“People shouldn’t care to hear my opinion, man. I’m a dumb redneck. I haven’t watched enough,” the country singer, whose name is Jason DeFord, told reporters after the ceremony when a Rolling Stone reporter asked if he wanted to speak on the state of the country. “I didn’t have a phone for 18 months. I’ve had one for four months and don’t have social media. I hate to be the artist that’s that aloof, I’m just so disconnected from what’s happening.”
The musician, who won three Grammys on Sunday night, including one for his album “Beautifully Broken,” did get a bit political during one of his acceptance speeches, where he talked about Jesus.
“Jesus is for everybody,” he said. “Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label.”
Jelly Roll spent most of his teens and early 20s in jail for charges including aggravated robbery and possession with intent to sell. While in jail, he earned his GED at 23 years old. He later turned to the Christian faith a few years ago when his daughter was interested in the religion.
On Sunday night, Jelly Roll explained that his upbringing has led to his apolitical nature.
“I grew up in a house of like insane pandemonium,” he told reporters. “I didn’t even know politics were fucking real until I was in my mid-20s in jail. When you grow up in a drug addict household, you think we have, like, common calls about what’s happening in world politics? We’re just trying to find a way to survive, man.”
Despite that, Jelly Roll said he has “a lot to say about it” and he plans to do so next week.
“Everybody’s going to hear exactly what I have to say about it in the most loud and clear way I’ve ever spoke in my life,” he said. “So I look forward to it.”
Jelly Roll’s reps did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Several artists made political statements in their acceptance speeches on Sunday night, including Billie Eilish, who said while accepting the award for Song of the Year, “no one is illegal on stolen land,” and then “Fuck ICE.”
Bad Bunny, who won the top award of the night for Album of the Year, said “ICE out” during his acceptance speech before telling the crowd that immigrants aren’t “savage,” “animals,” or “aliens.”
“We are humans and we are Americans,” Bad Bunny said.