The country music star Jelly Roll is on a mission to “spread love” however he can. That’s why he took a page out of Johnny Cash’s book on Tuesday to perform at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem.
Jelly Roll Performs At Oregon State Prison
This performance was the first time that the state prison allowed live music in two decades.
“For the first time in 20 […] years they have brought music to the prison yard,” Jelly Roll told his audience.
Jelly Roll, 39, knows exactly what the inmates at this facility are going through. Indeed, he was arrested dozens of times as a teenager on charges for things like dealing drugs, shoplifting, and aggravated robbery.
At 16, Jelly Roll was charged as an adult for a robbery that involved a gun. He was sentenced to eight years for this crime, but he ultimately served just over a year. Since then, Jelly Roll has turned his life around. He’s hoping that he can inspire other convicted felons to do the same.
“I wrote my first song behind the walls. It never feels better than to come back behind the wall and sing a song for y’all,” he told the crowd at the Oregon state prison. “If you love drawing, if you love writing, if you love poetry, if you love listening to music, playing the guitar, I just pray that you put that passion into it and live it as much as you possibly can.”
“Just trying to spread love,” Jelly Roll wrote on Instagram alongside a video montage of his prison performance.
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Cam Hanes Inspired Jelly Roll To Make This Visit
Jelly Roll explained that his friend and famous bowhunter Cam Hanes had encouraged him to visit the prison.
“I was as excited as he was about it, after we chatted for a minute he told me that he had an idea that maybe I could come with him next time and sing songs,” Jelly Roll wrote on Instagram of his visit. “I told him right then we was going to make it happen.”
“It felt so good bringing a little light to such a dark place,” he added. “I am a firm believer that if we commit crimes we should do our time and be held accountable for our actions, but I also believe that every human deserves love no matter how bad of a decision they have made.”
Hanes visited the prison with Jelly Roll.
“What a show. Amazing,” he said afterwards. “These guys enjoyed the show so much.”
Related: Jelly Roll Goes From Felon to Police Officer As He’s Sworn In As Deputy Sheriff In Michigan
Jelly Roll Loved This Performance
It was clear Jelly Roll had a blast performing at the penitentiary.
“It felt good to go love on these guys,” Jelly Roll gushed. “I remember being in a dark place and no one ever coming through and showing us any hope of changing the path of our lives, if one inmate was inspired to do better by my presence yesterday it was worth my weight in gold to stop by and sing.”
Jelly Roll concluded by describing this prison visit as being “chicken soup for the soul.” He then thanked prison staffers for allowing him to perform there.
Jelly Roll has become one of the most down-to-earth performers out there. Indeed, unlike most celebrities, he has never forgotten where he’s come from.
God bless Jelly Roll for taking the time to perform at this prison. If only we had more stars out there who are as humble as he is!
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