Jelly Roll Gets Choked Up During Poignant Speech at 2024 CMT Awards
Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll has done it again!
The rising country star once again stole hearts with his motivational speeches at the 2024 CMT Music Awards on Sun., April 7, where he was crowned the winner in the CMT Performance of the Year, Male Video of the Year and Video of the Year categories.
After winning his first award of the night, Jelly Roll, 39, got up onstage at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, to give an impassioned CMT Performance of the Year acceptance speech—and, like always, it left fans in tears.
Even the "Need a Favor" singer himself was visibly tearing up as he looked back at last year's performance at the 2023 CMTs, which was his first-ever performance on live national TV.
"What I'm emotional about is in that last year you have changed my life in a way I would have never thought my life would be changed," the singer said through tears, while everyone in the audience roared with applause.
"He deserved this??," one fan commented on Instagram footage of the precious moment.
"All of his speeches make me cry," someone else chimed in.
And if fans thought his first speech was emotional, they definitely weren't ready for his next one, where he got even more sentimental with the crowd while accepting the award for Male Video of the Year.
"Thank you to CMT, man. I couldn't believe it y'all gave me a chance last year," he said during his second speech of the night, while continuing, "I came back this year on fire, baby! I'm having one of the greatest nights of my life!"
But then he got serious, telling the crowd, "It's important that I stand up here tonight and represent those that are looking for second chances."
He went out to shout out the young people currently injuvenile detention facilities, telling them, "I'm cheering y'all boys on. You can be this guy. You can change. You can be this guy. I promise you can, baby!"
Make some noise, because @JellyRoll615 just won Male Video of the Year at the 2024 #CMTAwards! ?? pic.twitter.com/xhWbYBznYQ
— CMT (@CMT) April 8, 2024
"What an incredible story and message by JellyRoll!" one user wrote on X.
I don't know if he knows it, but Jelly Roll is anointed to preach. I could listen to him bring the house down all day. #CMTAwards
— Casey Jones (@caseyreyjones) April 8, 2024
Another person chimed in to say, "Jellyroll giving shout outs to the kids in youth detention centers. You don't have to give him all the awards but he should be allowed to make all the acceptance speeches. #CMTAwards."
Jelly Roll later won the biggest award of the night, being presented Video of the Year by none other than actor Billy Bob Thornton. During his third and final speech, the "Save Me" artist gave a special shout-out to his wife, Bunnie XO, who was supporting him from the audience.
He ended his speech by informing Gayle King—who was in the audience as one of the evening's presenters—that he was going to be a little late to his gig on CBS Mornings on Mon., April 8, as he planned to party it up in Austin after the show to celebrate all three of his big wins.
Next: Moving Toby Keith Tribute Leaves Fans 'Bawling' at 2024 CMT Music Awards