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NEW YORK<\/strong> \u2013 Jelly Roll<\/a> is catching his breath. <\/p>\n It’s not a metaphor. He’s running up a hill in South Texas when he answers The Associated Press’ phone call, part of his ongoing health transformation journey. \u201cEndorphins are flying. I feel great,\u201d he cheers. \u201cIt\u2019s time to win a (expletive) Grammy!\u201d<\/p>\n He’s got a lot to train for: This week, he was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. And last month, Jelly Roll learned that he was nominated for three Grammys<\/a> in 2026, marking his third year in a row receiving nods. Two of those are new territory for him. He’s up for his first contemporary Christian music (CCM) award, for \u201cHard Fought Hallelujah,\u201d his collaboration with Christian singer Brandon Lake. He is also up for his first award in the inaugural contemporary country album category.<\/a> That’s for \u201cBeautifully Broken.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s definitely the greatest honor,\u201d he says. \u201cEverybody wants to be nominated for a Grammy.\u201d<\/p>\n Since its release in 2024, Jelly Roll’s album \u201cBeautifully Broken\u201d<\/a> has connected with his passionate audience, those who view his music as both representational and aspirational. \u201cGod wanted people to know you can still be beautiful and broken,\u201d he says of the album’s Grammy recognition. \u201cIt\u2019s truly my most meaningful album.\u201d<\/p>\n Much of his work has become associated with overcoming adversity. Take, for example, the song \u201cWinning Streak,\u201d which tells the story of someone’s first day sober, which he debuted on \u201cSaturday Night Live.\u201d<\/a> Or the direct-and-to-the-point, \u201cI Am Not Okay.\u201d Even though his life looks pretty great right now, Jelly Roll’s no stranger to struggle. He’s been incarcerated a few times, most seriously at age 16 when he was tried as an adult for aggravated robbery. At 23, he was arrested for drug dealing.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m never disconnected from it,\u201d he says of his past. It has informed his philanthropic efforts, which often focus on mental health, recovery efforts and include not infrequent performances in prisons.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first started doing this, I was just telling my story of my broken self,\u201d he says of his career. \u201cBy the time I got through it, I realized that my story was the story of many. So now I\u2019m not telling my story anymore. I\u2019m getting to pull it right from the crevices of the people whose story\u2019s never been told. Right from them.\u201d<\/p>\n He jokes, \u201cI have a nobody cries alone policy.\u201d <\/p>\n Jelly Roll says God has been the force driving his year and receiving a Christian music Grammy nomination is just further proof that \u201cHe’s got my back,\u201d the singer says. And while Jelly Roll rejects the idea of crossing over into CCM \u2014 \u201cI definitely live a little too secular to be releasing Christian music\u201d \u2014 the recognition of \u201cHard Fought Hallelujah\u201d with Lake is just further proof that \u201cGod knows my heart,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cCountry is largely about faith, freedom and family, and those are all things I believe in,\u201d Lake told AP.<\/a> Collaborating with Jelly Roll, an artist he loves, was natural. \u201cI believe we can change even more millions of people\u2019s lives through these songs.\u201d<\/p>\n Jelly Roll agrees, \u201cIt’s well intentioned.\u201d <\/p>\n Beyond that, he sees a world that is searching for messages of hope \u2014 in his work, in country music, in Christian music and beyond. \u201cI think there really is a revival happening in America right now where people are being re-presented the gospel in a digestible way. And it doesn\u2019t seem as finger waggy and \u2018You\u2019re all going to hell,\u2019 you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI really don\u2019t care when the organized religions wave their finger at me,\u201d he continues. \u201cI\u2019m just glad to see the message, the gospel getting presented.\u201d<\/p>\n At the end of the day, he says, \u201cI\u2019m a broken dude that came from a broken place and like Humpty Dumpty,<\/a> they put me back together, baby.\u201d <\/p>\n He hopes his music can help others do the same.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n