ACM Awards 2023: Nashville's Jelly Roll takes stage for 'Save Me' with Lainey Wilson

Jelly Roll's next stop on his fast-rising ride to country music stardom? The ACM Awards.

The independent rapper-turned-crooner — born Jason DeFord — brought his fan-favorite ballad "Save Me" to the ACM Awards stage Thursday night in Frisco, Texas.

He surprised viewers by inviting fellow breakout singer — and six-time 2023 ACM Awards nominee — Lainey Wilson on stage for a duet of the song.

ACM Awards 2023: See the full list of winners

The performance marks the second major television appearance in as many months for DeFord, an ex-convict from Nashville borough Antioch who began a music career by selling CDs out of his car trunk. He mad his primetime country debut last month with a blazing performance of "Need a Favor" at the CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas. Jelly Roll won three trophies at the 2023 fan-voted CMTs, including Male Video of the Year.

Last year, DeFord headlined a sold-out concert at Bridgestone Arena. The night raised about $250,000 to create programs aimed at aiding incarcerated youth in Davidson County.

Jelly Roll's forthcoming album, "Whitsitt Chapel," debuts June 2 via BBR Music Group.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ACM Awards 2023: Jelly Roll performs 'Save Me' with Lainey Wilson