Jelly Roll & Bunnie XO Visit a Group of Inmates in Arkansas: ‘Chicken Soup For the Soul’
A key part of CMA Award-winning Jelly Roll‘s story has been his rise from incarceration to becoming one of the most sought-after headlining artists out there today. Alongside his ascendant career, the Tennessee native has been dedicated to giving back to communities and encouraging those who are in jails and detention facilities.
During Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken tour stop in Little Rock, Arkansas, Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO paid a visit to the local Pulaski County Detention Center, visiting the female inmates in the CSI Reentry program just prior to Jelly Roll’s concert at Simmons Bank Arena on Oct. 22. On Instagram, Bunnie XO posted a video from the trip, calling the visit “chicken soup for the soul.”
More from Billboard
“I went to jail today, willingly,” Bunnie XO said over a video clip of moments from the couple’s visit to the jail, where they met with the women, offered encouragement and Jelly Roll even performed, leading the crowd in a version of his Billboard Country Airplay chart-topper “Save Me.”
“I was so honored today to be able to tag along with my husband … look how sweet these babies are,” as the video showed Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO walking in to visit with the inmates, who greeted them with cheers and smiles. “Today was chicken soup for the soul, man. To be able to bring smiles to their faces in probably one of the lowest times of their lives means everything to me. They all had the best personalities.”
She also noted how Jelly Roll cracked jokes and kept the crowd laughing, as she said, “I have to say, man, the most attractive thing about my husband is his heart.”
As the video concluded with footage of Bunnie XO hugging the women, Bunnie XO said the visit inspired her as much as she hoped it had for the inmates. “I hope they know how much of an impact they had on me and how much they lifted my spirit also,” she said in the video clip. “I realize more and more lately that God has given us these platforms to give back, not to receive. And that’s what I plan on doing alongside my husband.”
According to the official Instagram page for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Jelly Roll also took the oath of office to be an honorary deputy.
Up next, Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken Tour will visit St. Louis on Oct. 23 and Knoxville, Tenn. on Oct. 25. Jelly Roll also just added a new hometown show to the tour, when it visits Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 26.
Best of Billboard
Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
