Nashville, TN (May 9, 2023) - ABC News announced today ABC News Studios’ “Jelly Roll: Save Me,” a documentary chronicling a journey of redemption in real time of 38-year-old singer-songwriter Jelly Roll, confronting his struggles with mental health and addiction as he stands on the precipice of megastardom. After independently building his loyal fanbase, Jelly Roll became the story of the night at this year’s CMT Music Awards in April, beating out the biggest names in country music to sweep the awards as a first-time nominee. Enjoying a meteoric rise to fame with his first country radio No. 1, two weeks at No. 1 on rock radio, and 25 consecutive weeks topping Billboard’s Emerging Artist chart ― the most of any artist in the chart’s history ― his highly-anticipated debut country album ”Whitsitt Chapel” drops on June 2.
“Jelly Roll: Save Me” gives viewers an unfettered inside look as Jelly Roll prepares and performs for his devoted fans on the biggest tour date of his career, Nashville’s famed Bridgestone Arena in his hometown. Featuring exclusive access, never-before-seen tour footage, and interviews with the musician and those closest to him, the documentary reveals a raw and unflinching artist, incarcerated as a teen and adult, now using the power of his platform to raise awareness and funds for at-risk youth across the country. Jelly Roll shares a behind-the-scenes look at how he balances life on tour with his philanthropic work, including visitingthe juvenile detention facility where he was incarcerated multiple times to share his story and inspire positive change. “Jelly Roll: Save Me” begins streaming Tuesday, May 30, only on Hulu.
“Jelly Roll: Save Me” is produced for Hulu by ABC News Studios. Edward Hambleton and Claire Weinraub are executive producers. Monica Escobedo is senior entertainment producer. David Sloan is senior executive producer. ABC News Studios is led by Mike Kelley.
About ABC News Studios:
ABC News Studios, inspired by ABC News’ trusted reporting, is a premium, narrative non-fiction original production house and commissioning partner of series and specials. ABC News Studios champions untold and authentic stories driving the cultural zeitgeist spanning true-crime, investigations, pop culture and news-adjacent stories. ABC News Studios’ original titles include critically acclaimed documentaries “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” “The Lady Bird Diaries,” “Aftershock” and “The Murders Before the Marathon” as well as compelling docu-series, including “Killing County,” “Wild Crime,” “Death in the Dorms” and “Mormon No More.”
For more information on “Jelly Roll: Save Me” (#JellyRollDoc), follow ABC News Studios on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
ABOUT JELLY ROLL:
Outright genre-bending singer/songwriter Jelly Roll has quietly been building a remarkable career, under the radar and on his own terms. Since his days selling his mix tapes out of his car, he has constantly been releasing new music, touring relentlessly, consistently topping various iTunes charts, engaging a rabid fanbase and creating videos that have amassed more than 4 Billion views on YouTube. He pairs deeply personal lyrics with music that blends Old-school Rap, Classic Rock, Country and Soul to create music that is therapeutic, raw and tackles the heaviness in life.
His 2020 single “Save Me” — a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt set the stage for his new season of life and took him to new heights, with more than 160 million views on YouTube and Platinum certification from the RIAA. Born and raised in Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood, the former addict and drug dealer released his album Ballads of the Broken in 2021, ahead of his sold-out hometown show at the famous Ryman Auditorium, which sold out in under an hour. The introspective 10-track album shows Jelly Roll’s growth as an artist and man, drawing from his personal experiences to tell the story of a man who has been through the ringer and isn’t afraid to share his raw truth, featuring his multi-week No. 1 Rock hit “Dead Man Walking” and his No. 1 Country debut single “Son of a Sinner.” Now after a history-making “breakthrough year” (American Songwriter), having just sold-out Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and released the riveting anthem “Need A Favor” along with the soul-stirring ballad “She” from his highly anticipated forthcoming album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, the reigning No. 1 of Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart for 25 weeks is well on his way to mainstream, multi-genre stardom.
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