Jelly Roll Declares Himself a ‘Dumb Redneck’ While Others Criticize ICE at the 2026 Grammys
While artists like Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish made powerful statements regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the 2026 Grammys, Jelly Roll chose to remain silent — at least for now.
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, opted not to share his thoughts on the current tensions in the U.S. after winning three awards at the music awards show on Sunday, February 1, including Best Contemporary Country Album for his album Beautifully Broken.
Backstage, when reporters inquired if he wished to comment on “what’s going on in the country right now,” he simply replied, “Not really.”
“So, this is the truth, and I’m glad someone asked because I enjoy discussing this stuff, and people care about my opinion, but I can tell you that they shouldn’t,” Jelly Roll explained to the media.
He continued, “You know, I’m just a dumb redneck. I haven’t kept up with much. I didn’t even have a phone for 18 months.”
Jelly Roll further acknowledged, “I’m so out of touch with what’s going on.”
“I grew up in a chaotic household, where I had no clue that politics were even a thing until I was in my mid-20s and in jail,” the “Son of a Sinner” artist stated. “That’s the level of disconnection you experience growing up in a drug-addicted environment. We were just trying to survive, man, you know?”
However, Jelly Roll mentioned that he “does have a lot to share” and plans to express his views soon.
“I’m going through it next week, and everyone will hear exactly what I have to say in the most loud and clear way I’ve ever communicated in my life. So, I’m looking forward to it,” he added.
In addition to Best Contemporary Country Album, he also won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen” alongside Shaboozey and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for featuring on Brandon Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
While accepting the award for Best Contemporary Country Album, Jelly Roll became emotional as he expressed his gratitude to his wife, Bunnie Xo, with whom he had previously posed on the red carpet at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
“First of all, Jesus, I hear you, and I’m listening. Lord, I am listening. Lord,” he said. “Secondly, I want to thank my beautiful wife. I would have never changed my life without you. I would have ended up dead or in jail. I would have taken my own life if it weren’t for you and Jesus. I am grateful for that.”
Other celebrities, including Bad Bunny, voiced their opinions about ICE during the ceremony on Sunday.
“Before I thank God, I’m going to say ICE out,” Bunny declared as he accepted the award for Best Música Urbana Album for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. “We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
“I want to remind everyone that it’s hard not to hate these days, and I was thinking we get contaminados — I’m not sure how to say that in English,” the artist, known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, continued, referring to the term “contaminated.”
