Over the past several months, Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, has emerged as one of the biggest names in country music, sparking a massive tour that recently took him to Australia and New Zealand. However, it does not sound like he fared well during that stretch.
Jelly Roll’s time in Australia and New Zealand came to an abrupt end when an illness caused him to cancel his final show of the tour in Auckland, New Zealand. Now, the singer has opened up about just how much he was struggling mentally on the tour.
Jelly Roll Canceled His New Zealand Concert
The country music superstar’s concert in Auckland, New Zealand, on Nov. 8 was supposed to be the conclusion of the Australia and New Zealand tour. Unfortunately, Jelly Roll was unable to make it on stage.
Just hours before the concert was supposed to start, Jelly Roll announced on social media that he had cancelled the performance.
“Dear Auckland, I’ve done everything I can,” he wrote on Instagram. “I just can’t shake it. It breaks my heart, I’ve probably missed three shows in the last decade. I pride myself on showing up no matter what. Just couldn’t do it this time. Please forgive me.”
‘I’m Doing the Worst Mentally’
Aside from the social media statement made to fans after the cancellation, Jelly Roll had not spoken much about just how much he was struggling while on tour. But he broke his silence on the matter during a recent podcast appearance.
On a recent episode of the No Filter with Kate Langbroek podcast, Jelly Roll admitted that his mental health was the worst that it has been in “a long time” during his tour through Australia and New Zealand.
“I’m falling apart. It’s a horrible week. I’m doing the worst mentally I’ve done in a long time,” Jelly Roll said on the podcast. “I’m really far from home and it’s really hitting me that I’m really far from home, like in an anxious way… I’m not having fun and I want to go home.”
As for the physical illness, Jelly Roll said that the trip had “[messed] my stomach up,” which impacted the way he felt mentally.
“When my stomach’s not right, nothing’s right. My mind’s not right. Everything. I’m just not thinking clear,” he said.
That illness, combined with a lack of support while on tour, left him in a poor mental space.
“I’m having to be super isolated. I don’t like it,” he said. “I’m spending a lot of time in my hotel room by myself, just in my head. I don’t like it. I miss my family a ton.”
The singer said that he typically employs some breathing techniques to handle his stress and anxiety, but the tour left him overwhelmed.
“Everybody wants to go home when they’re sick. That’s just in us,” he said. “I just don’t feel good, so I just want to go home.”
Obviously, this is a heartbreakingly candid admission from Jelly Roll, and we all hope that he got the rest and support he needed after returning home from the tour.
This story was originally reported by Men’s Journal on Nov 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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