Jelly Roll turned to music after his jokes about President Donald Trump got him in trouble earlier this week when he guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live!
On Thursday, his final night appearing on ABC’s late night talk show, the country singer, 41, became visibly emotional and fought back tears as he explained that his political views were “in the middle” and that he does not belong to either political party.
“Sure, I lean to the left on some things, but like most people, I’m pretty much in the middle. “I’m a Christian, I’m a country singer, I’m a farmer, I’m a bowhunter, and most of the things I eat, I like to get them with a stick and string,” he said.
Jelly Roll came under fire after claiming Trump could follow in his footsteps by losing some weight and being able to ‘see’ [his] penis again” during his first night as guest host on Monday.
“It’s funny, before this week everyone thought I was MAGA, and now they think I’m some kind of liberal snowflake,” he continued. “I guess I’m just not used to people projecting their beliefs onto me, even though a few years ago I was so fat you could project a movie onto me.”
Jelly Roll played a clip of Fox News commentator Jesse Watters – who accused the three-time Grammy winner of having TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) and being a “fake” who only made fun of the president for a big Hollywood paycheck.
Jelly Roll turned to music after his jokes about President Donald Trump got him in trouble earlier this week when he guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The 41-year-old country singer came under fire after claiming Trump could follow in his footsteps by losing some weight and “being able to see.” [his] penis again” during his first night as guest host on Monday. Trump is pictured above on Thursday
“First of all, I didn’t do this for the check. I’m rich, y’all,” said the Son of a Sinner songwriter, who is worth an estimated $20 million. “And listen, I don’t want to throw my buddy under the bus, but Jimmy Kimmel is cheap as hell.”
Jelly Roll also reminded viewers that he supported the UFC Freedom 250 event, which took place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington DC in June.
“Just because I watched a fight on TV doesn’t mean I support everything this administration does, just like hosting Jimmy Kimmel’s show doesn’t mean I support all of Jimmy Kimmel’s politics,” Jelly Roll insisted.
In a serious tone he continued, “This year it wasn’t the hosting gig I was looking forward to. It was the platform to get some very personal things off my heart.
‘Over the past six months I’ve seen people decide who I am, what I am, what I believe, what I support and what I don’t support. And I felt that even more this week, just because I told a few jokes. And honestly, this goes back further for me, y’all. This goes back to February this year.”
Jelly Roll spoke about his controversial backstage interview at the 2026 Grammys, in which he declined to comment when asked about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other current political topics.
“Looking back, I don’t necessarily regret asking for more time before I spoke,” he said. “I wish more people would take more time before speaking up. But I wish I had found the words to express my heart a little sooner. But I was afraid that whatever I was going to say would immediately be taken as a political statement. And ironically, by trying so hard not to make a political statement, I ended up becoming one.”
He said he “had a microphone and I wasn’t using it properly.” So now I’m going to try to do the right thing.
Jelly Roll became visibly emotional and fought back tears as he explained that his political views were “in the middle” and that he does not belong to either political party
In a serious tone he continued, “This year it wasn’t the hosting gig I was looking forward to. It was the platform to shed very personal matters.’ Above you can see how to arrive at the late night talk show on Thursday
The Son of a Sinner continued, “I will shake the hand of any president who holds that office because a handshake is not an endorsement. A conversation is not loyalty. And a joke is not a political position.” Above, Trump is pictured in Houston, Texas on Thursday
Jelly Roll’s divorce from Bunnie Xo was finalized in May this year. Above, the couple is pictured attending the Grammy Awards on February 1
“Human dignity is neither Republican nor Democratic. Compassion is not left, and mercy is not right. Pain and healing know no partiality. Wounding hearts is more important than polls. And there are no boundaries for broken families.”
Jelly Roll, whose divorce from Bunnie
“This may be a good move, but out of respect for him, and for everyone who has ever served and will continue to serve this country, I will always shake hands with the sitting President of the United States when asked to do so. My father would have been disappointed if I had done anything differently,” he insisted.
Jelly Roll, who met and shook hands with Trump at the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden in November 2024, continued: “I am proud to have been able to shake hands with the President of the United States. I’m also proud that I live in a country where I can make jokes about him. Isn’t that the great thing about being an American? Democracy, freedom of expression.
“I will shake the hand of any president who holds that office because a handshake is not an endorsement. A conversation is not loyalty. And a joke is not a political position. And in my line of work, taking a photo with a political figure, or anyone for that matter, doesn’t mean you agree or disagree with their policies or politics. More often than not, I don’t do that.’
