Stepping fully into his newly-created role as the first-ever artist-in-residence on “American Idol,” country superstar Jelly Roll advised season 23 contestants alongside guest mentor Ashanti at Hawaii’s Aulani Resort and Spa.

The first of two episodes filmed there aired on April 13, 2025, and with three of the “Idol” hopefuls, Jelly Roll couldn’t help but get emotional.

When Jelly Roll joined host Ryan Seacrest onstage midway through the two-hour episode, Seacrest said, “We love so much about you, but one of the things we really love is that you are not afraid to show your emotions. You’ve gotten very emotional during some of these rehearsals. Tell me about that.”

“I don’t know about y’all, but music just always did something for me,” Jelly Roll explained. “Gives me chill bumps, it makes me cry, it makes me have emotions I can’t contain. And if you add good music with a really good story, I mean, you’ve just got me by the heart. But I think that’s why we’re all watching ‘American Idol,’ right?”

Gabby Samone Says Jelly Roll’s Guidance is ‘Changing Me Completely’

After talking with Jelly Roll onstage, Seacrest teased the next “emotional” segment featuring Jelly Roll and Ashanti working with contestant Gabby Samone as she practiced her song, “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” by Celine Dion.

When Jelly Roll asked Samone, 23, why she chose that song, she replied, “I come from a big family, I’m the youngest of eight. Singing is really something that I do for them because we struggled a lot. There were times when we struggled to keep the lights on. There were times that we struggled to even stay in a home. I want my parents to relax and I want my parents to not have to work. And my siblings, I want them to see that they can go for their dreams.”

“I just feel like I have always been the glue of the family and sometimes I feel weak,” she continued, and wiping away tears, added, “It’s just been a lot.”

After Samone belted out the tune for Jelly Roll and Ashanti, he was speechless and pointed to the tears in his eyes, trying to regain his composure.

“It’s a pain I understand,” he told her through tears. “You keep singing with that ‘why.’ You keep sharing that ‘why.’ I know how uncomfortable it is to be that vulnerable in front of all these people on TV, but man, it’s special.”

“I thank you so much for bringing that out of me,” Samone told him, with tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m really not the person to be vulnerable. I’ve had that wall up this whole time I’ve been here, but this is changing me completely.”

“There is no reason a girl from Baltimore can’t be the next American Idol,” Jelly Roll told her emphatically, choking up again.

The judges loved her powerful performance, with Carrie Underwood telling her, “I felt all the things” and Samone later told Seacrest that working with Jelly Roll and Ashanti helped her realize that by sharing her own emotions, she could show people “it’s okay to be vulnerable, it’s okay to cry.”

Jelly Roll Wiped Away Tears While Working With Breanna Nix

Jelly Roll also got emotional while rehearsing with contestant Breanna Nix, who chose to perform “Idol” alum Lauren Daigle’s “Still Rolling Stones.” The 25-year-old mom told Jelly Roll and Ashanti that the song has a lot of meaning for her because of her past.

“This song is very personal to me,” she said. “In high school, like, I dealt with a lot of rejection and just not feeling like I was anything, and I turned to a lot of drinking and trying to run away.”

Her voice cracking, Nix continued, “Just, um, a lot of things that I wasn’t proud of and I thought that I was way too far gone. When she was writing these lyrics, I felt like I was writing the lyrics because I walked through everything. And I think my hope, at least, is if America gets to hear that, you know, someone that’s so down and out, that they can see there’s a way out. I just want to sing with that message.”

Wiping his tears, Jelly Roll told her, “I love that you keep picking songs that you can sing with conviction” and told her that her confidence was “glowing out of your eyes.” She told him he was going to make her “a mess” and asked for a big hug.

Jelly Roll Tells Jamal Roberts He Can ‘Feel The Pain’ in His Voice

The third and last time Jelly Roll was moved to tears during the April 13 episode was with the final performer of the night, P.E. teacher Jamal Roberts, who made the bold move to sing Jelly Roll’s hit song “Liar.”

After hearing Roberts talk about how he’s tried to see the good and rise above the lack of hope in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, and then hearing him sing his song, Jelly Roll got choked up, wiping his tears and hugging him afterwards.

“Man, that wasn’t a performance, you were testifying,” he told Roberts. “I feel the pain in your voice. You know, you can’t teach that. I am your champion in this thing, man. I think you’ve got it. I think you represent a group of misrepresented people. Man, you got it, Jamal.”

Onstage, Roberts delivered a stunning performance that caused Luke Bryan to joke, “I mean, I’m mad at Jelly Roll. He has over-mentored!”

Jelly Roll then laughed, “I would feel disrespectful to call this my song at this moment. This is now Jamal’s song. I was singing Jamal’s song tonight! Man, I am blown away. Everything about him — his story, his testimony, his love for his children, his community, his city — but most importantly, I love his voice!”

The second night of Hawaii performances airs on April 14 starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Jelly Roll will be back, advising contestants along side guest mentor Josh Groban.