Stagecoach 2024: Ernest makes sure the crowd can hear him during redemptive Saturday set

With all apologies to Guy Fieri, Jelly Roll is the new mayor of Stagecoach (don’t worry, Fieri can still keep that same post in Flavortown).

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, made his fourth major appearance so far at the festival when he popped onstage during good friend Ernest's set on the Mane Stage to perform their duet “I Went to College, I Went to Jail.”

As the name suggests, the darkly humorous tune traces the differing paths Ernest and Jelly Roll took to their current status as Nashville stars (Jelly Roll, if you didn’t know, was the one who went to jail).

And there was definitely something joyful and triumphant about the two singing it from one of the most high-profile stages in country music. The vibes were equally as good when Ernest came out during Jelly Roll's Mane Stage set the day prior to sing "Son of a Sinner" — but better, because Ernest didn't have any microphone issues this time.

“I love you bubba,” a beaming Jelly Roll said to his pal at one point.

But as thrilling as Jelly Roll’s setclosing appearance was, he didn’t steal the show.

That honor instead belonged to Ernest’s 3-year-old son, Ryman (in what is obviously a nod to the Uber famous country music venue in Ernest’s native Nashville).

Hearts were surely already melt in when Ernest carried out Ryman (who had protective gear over his ears) and explained that it was his third birthday.

But I don’t think you’ll find a cuter moment at many festivals than when Ernest explained that Ryman’s birthday present was going to be singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”

The youngster knocked it out of the park with some help from the crowd while surely giving the kid quite a memory (I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him back on this stage sans dad someday).

To the likely dismay of some, Ernest did not bring out his other high-profile collaborator, Morgan Wallen. However, he hardly needed him as he got the crowd singing to “Cowgirls” and “Flower Shops.” Of course, Morgan was probably resting for his Sunday headlining set.

All in all, it was a pretty great Stagecoach debut for a still-rising artist who is now making a name for himself as a singer and performer after previously working mostly as a songwriter.

However, someone needs to tell Ernest what festival he's at, because on multiple occasions, he referred to the event he was playing as “Coachella” without correcting himself. Then again, if those words were a Freudian slip that he wants to play the year’s first musical fest too, we’d say Goldenvoice should extend him an invitation.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Stagecoach: Ernest brings out his son Ryman and Jelly Roll for fun set