Jelly Roll said that he couldn’t even keep together when he listened to Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Save Me,’ and that he was humbled that he wrote a song, which she covered, on the stage of her show.
In the song, the singer wrote how he did the desperate “cry for help.” Must have been something else to see it now perform with Clarkson’s powerhouse vocals!!
Jelly Roll, 40, has always been known for blurrying the line between rap, country and rock, but his song ‘Save Me,’ 2020’s hit single that bares fans with a song about addiction, pain and redemption, stripped it back.
The Tennessee born singer – whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord – started dabbling in ‘marijuana and trouble’ at age 14 and ended up in the federal pen department of the US where over the course of a decade, he served several sentences including felonies. Grammy News states that he was even incarcerated when his daughter Bailee was born in 2008.
Jelly Roll explains to Billboard that when he started writing his songs he chose connection and honesty. Throughout the process of creating the songs, I didn’t feel that it had to be songs where it seemed like everything was fine, particularly the songs that helped me, that were songs where someone was saying something to you from an honest space about something that you were going through. That’s where you find connection.”
‘Save Me’
“Save Me,” one of the most emotionally charged tracks of his career, was written during the pandemic lockdowns where Jelly and producer David Ray were ‘in the thick of it,’ the magazine said, speaking with Jelly about the song.
“I knew how I was living at that point in that I figured it couldn’t be sustained.” According to the “Son of a Sinner” singer, the chart topping song was “My personal cry for help”, I needed to make changes in my life.
In 2023, he released a duet with Lainey Wilson, and in 2024 when rap and country made themselves at home in the same room, Eminem sampled the ballad for ‘Somebody Save Me’ featuring vocals by Jelly Roll.
Hard as a punchline, these lyrics are: “Somebody save me, me from myself…I’m a lost cause…I’m so damaged beyond repair.”
‘I cried watching it’
In 2024 when Kelly Clarkson sang ‘Save Me’ it was one of the most memorable Kellyoke performances to date.
Clarkson belted out the intense lyrics, and the raspy edge in her voice and fire in her eyes matched the way the song was written. Right from the first line, one could sense the desperation, the sorrow, the need for grace that runs among every syllable of the original.
She didn’t just go through and cover the song, she honored it and to Jelly Roll, that was everything.
Jelly Roll then shared a heartwarming social media post, which posted on the same day, Jimmy was performing the track on the stage of the Kelly Clarkson Show, the track.
I would have never believed you if you told me that I’d write a song of that kind, it would be so impactful that incredible Kelly Clarkson believed that it was worth to cover.” Wow! thank you Kelly — I’m honored – in a way I can’t even say — I cried watching it,” he retweeted on February 15, 2024.
‘You made it’
Viewers across the country and social media were ablaze over Clarkson’s performance.
“Awesome cover Kelly C!!! And such a beautiful, humble and heartfelt post Jelly Roll!! One of the fans in the comment section of Jelly Roll’s post says, “I’ve said we deserve all the good things!!”
A second writes, “Omg yes. When I heard that, I thought, ‘you know, you made it when Kelly covers you.’ You made it.”
“While I am a pro Kelly Clarkson, Jelly Roll’s voice goes to my heart with this song,’ a third explains.
‘Saved my life’
People commended Jelly, stating that he reminded them of the people he has saved with their painful confession in the song.
One fan writes, “Love the song, LOVE Kelly but YOU, are the reason that song has touched so many lives, it’s YOU, Jelly that makes this song reach down inside of [people’s] souls.”
“I know you hear this a lot but that one single song saved my life,” she tweets in a second. In more than one way. So, I thank you man. You yourself saved ME.”
Another states, “If you feel that your music isn’t inspirational, inspiring and if not incredible, then you are mistaken, bud”. I do hope that you continue doing what you’re doing because you helped me out of a few dark places and I know you’re not the only one you’ve helped with that.”
In his Billboard interview, Jelly Roll explained how “Save Me” helped him out of recovery: “Seeing the song affect so many people’s lives so quickly, it gave me the strength to make the life changes I needed to make . In more ways than one, ‘Save Me’ truly changed my life.”
No, Jelly Roll’s emotional reaction to Kelly Clarkson performing “Save Me” wasn’t a sign of weakness, it was a moment of strength. Blended through song, it was what music could be in its most real, a hint that even the most broken souls could find healing through music.
If you haven’t listened Clarkson’s cover, listen and then leave your thoughts below for it.