Jelly Roll Learned to Embrace Being No. 1 on Funeral Playlists

Jelly Roll doesn’t hold back when it comes to talking about his past and the struggles he has overcome.

It’s not surprising that others would find solace in his music, either.

While promoting the release of his new album, Beautifully Broken, the rapper-turned-country superstar kept it real on his thoughts regarding his songs being popular in unusual locations.

“We go to prisons all the time and play and we go to homeless shelters, but you catch somebody during those first 10 days, cause I know what those 10 days are. To know that’s the song [‘Save Me’] that’s getting people through that particular stretch…,” Jelly Roll says, talking to the Jay Shetty Podcast.

“It’s like when they told me ‘Save Me’ is becoming the new ‘Free Bird’ of the South for funeral homes,” he continues. “They say they get more requests for ‘Save Me’ now, and that used to really bum me out and make me sad. But then I started thinking about how much that’s helping people grieve.”

“Free Bird” is the 1973 smash hit by legendary rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Jelly Roll is making the most of his current popularity, even opening a new bar in Nashville. As previously reported, Jelly Roll, real name Jason DeFord, announced the new venture on the Joe Rogan Experience on Oct. 11.

The CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee revealed the bar will be called Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville, and it will include a back bar named after his late dad, Buddy.

Although not giving many details on Goodnight Nashville, he did spill a little info regarding Buddy’s bar: “Our rule is, it’s open to the public when it’s open to the public. And when it’s not it’s not.”

The 39-year-old singer made the announcement on the same day he released his new album Beautifully Broken, which features the single “I Am Not Okay,” plus previously released songs “Winning Streak,” “Liar” and “Get By.”