Jelly Roll Calls Himself a ‘Dumb Redneck’ and Says He Feels ‘Disconnected’ from Politics Following 3 Grammy Wins

However, the country star promised “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” soon

Jelly Roll at the Grammy Awards.Credit : 

Amy Sussman/Getty

Jelly Roll opted not to comment on the current political climate in the U.S. following his three wins at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

On Sunday, Feb. 1, the singer, 41, took home the awards for Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song with Brandon Lake for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” and Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Shaboozey for “Amen.”

After scoring the Grammys, Jelly Roll spoke with reporters in the backstage press room at the Crypto.com Arena and said he didn’t want to comment on ongoing tensions in the U.S., while some of his contemporaries condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations onstage.

A reporter asked Jelly Roll, “Would you be willing to comment on what’s going on in the country right now?” The singer replied, “Not really.” PEOPLE was present in the press room during the exchange.

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, then explained, “So this is the truth, and I’m glad somebody asked, because I love talking about this stuff, and people care to hear my opinion, but so I can tell you that people shouldn’t care to hear my opinion.”

“You know, I’m a dumb redneck, like, I haven’t watched enough,” he said. “I didn’t have a phone for 18 months.”

Jelly Roll at the 2026 Grammy Awards.Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty

“I’m so disconnected from what’s happening,” the singer said.

“I grew up in a house of, like, insane pandemonium. Like, I didn’t even know politics were f–king real until I was in my mid-20s in jail,” he said. “Like, that’s how disconnected [you are] when you grew up in a drug addict household. You think we, like, had common calls about what’s happening in rural politics? Like, we’re just trying to find a way to survive, man, you know?”

He reassured the room that he does “have a lot to say about it.” Adding, “I’m going through it the next week, and 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. So I look forward to it on the Internet.”

Both Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish mentioned ICE and the Trump administration’s severe immigration policies during their acceptance speeches, with the latter saying, “As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land.”

Jelly Roll’s backstage remarks came after his impassioned acceptance speech while receiving the Best Contemporary Country Album award — during which the tearful singer credited his wife, Bunnie Xo, with saving his life during his darkest moments.

“First of all, Jesus, I hear you, and I’m listening. Lord, I am listening. Lord,” he began. “Second of all, I want to thank my beautiful wife. I would have never changed my life without you. I would have ended up dead or in jail. I would have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus. I thank you for that.”

Jelly Roll on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.Kevin Winter/Getty

During the speech, he also recalled how his period of incarceration became a turning point in his life. “There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big, and a radio the same size, and a six-by-eight-foot cell,” he said.

“And I believe that those two things could change my life. I believe that music had the power to change my life, and God had the power to change my life. And I want to tell y’all right now Jesus is for everybody,” he said. “Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label. Jesus is Jesus and anybody can have a relationship with Him. I love you, Lord.”