Country music star Jelly Roll had all eyes on him at this year’s CMA Awards. The musician had the public buzzing over his appearance after he spoke to a media outlet about his incredible weight loss.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet, the artist, who donned an all-black outfit that accentuated his frame, marveled at how far he has come in his weight journey.
“Sitting here, talking to you last year, coming back a year later, being 100 pounds lighter on the carpet alone. If that was the only thing I did in that year, it would be like, ‘Wow!’” expressed the star.
He continued, “But then, think about the year I’ve had, man.” The interviewer then brought up how open Jelly Roll has been throughout his health and fitness journey and noted how “incredible” he looks after having lost 100 pounds.
“I just wanna feel good. I wanna feel normal. I’ve been morbidly obese my entire life,” divulged the “All My Life” musician.
He went on to say, “I wanna feel normal. It’s just something I wanna do and I’m pretty committed to it. I can’t wait to come back next year and then look back and — I’m also glad I’m being so honest about it because I want the world to see it, man, I’m not hiding it. I didn’t go try to do it in the dark.”
Jelly Roll concluded his revelations by mentioning how he wants to show the public what God is capable of doing when individuals “allow him to work.”
“He’s on a roll! 
Jelly Roll is sharing why he’s committed to his health journey. 
,” captioned ET alongside their video post.
Comparing photos taken at the country music event, where Jelly Roll posed with fellow industry stars like Cody Johnson, with past pictures of him from last year (2023), 2022, and even all the way back in 2011, one can see a marked difference.
Even as early as February of this year (2024), when Jelly Roll was seen posing for a picture with his wife Bunnie XO at the 66th Grammy Awards, the musician’s physical change is noticeable.
Netizens are seeing the difference too, as they flocked to social media platforms to praise Jelly Roll on his weight loss after seeing him at the CMA Awards. “That’s awesome 
good health is real wealth,” commended a fan.
Another chimed in with, “The true definition of a changed man…his life experiences make him relatable and his faith and gratitude for Gods [sic] grace is beautiful.”
“The fact that he thought he was only a certain weight due to the max of his scale, and then doing the work to find out his actual weight and then sharing that with the world!!! That’s phenomenal!” praised an admirer, who also added some background context to his comment.
A Facebooker simply swooned, “Looking fantastic,” while someone else added, “I feel you Jelly! 60lbs down and feeling amazing! Way to go!!” “He’s done so good!!! So proud of Jelly,” remarked yet another fan.
Even more positive comments ensued, with an admirer penning, “keep [sic] it up brother we want you around for a long time!”
“@JellyRoll You are an incredible role model for so many. Mental health, weightloss [sic], parenting, marriage, faith!!! 
[…] Keep on keeping on my brother 
,” noted another fan.
Like many others, an X user observed, “Jelly Roll has lost a lot of weight,” while another wrote, “Jelly Roll finally living up to his name and rolling that weight off. From food addiction to weight subtraction, my man went from ‘all you can eat’ to ‘all you can yeet [sic].’”
“Atta boy jelly!!! 100 lbs is huge. Keep working hard,” asserted a spectator. On the other hand, one person expressed, “Celebs in general need to admit they are least having some ‘help’ in the form of ozempic [sic]. It would make their journey a little more transparent for their fans.”
Nevertheless, an admirer defended, “People will say all kinda bad stuff for no reason. Good job man. It’s crazy difficult to lose weight, and he lost 100 lbs. That’s a huge accomplishment.”
Aside from sparking online chatter with his weight loss, Jelly Roll set the CMA Awards stage ablaze with his performances, one of which saw him collaborate with legendary musical duo Brooks & Dunn. The trio sang a powerful rendition of Brooks & Dunn’s song “Believe.”
At another point during the evening, Jelly Roll performed with country icon Keith Urban. The duo performed Jelly Roll’s song “Liar,” with Urban showcasing his guitar prowess.
Jelly Roll’s appearance at the CMA Awards comes a month after he shared an Instagram video where his chef, Ian Larios, talked about the hard work the musician is putting in behind the scenes of the “Beautifully Broken” tour.
According to the chef, Jelly Roll has adopted an active lifestyle on the road, incorporating basketball, boxing, and even climbing the stairs of each arena to stay fit. He also shared how much weight the musician has lost during this fitness journey.
“He just surpassed his 100-pound weight loss,” revealed Larios, commending the artist’s commitment. To complement his exercise routine, Jelly Roll has also adopted a specialized diet.
Larios explained that Jelly Roll likes to enjoy one of his favorite pre-show snacks. The “Best For Me” singer’s favorite snack consists of sliced bananas drizzled with honey and topped with dark chocolate.
After performances, Larios said the musician enjoys high-protein meals like chicken breast coated with either potato or rice flour. These nutritional changes have been an essential part of his weight loss success.
In the video, Jelly Roll himself spoke about his dedication, “Next year when y’all see me, you won’t recognize me.” He also expressed enthusiasm about taking his progress further, “I’m going to get under a pile of weights in a way that I never had.”
Larios’ update about Jelly Roll quickly gained traction online, as fans flooded social media with messages of support. One follower commented, “So happy he’s beginning to take care of his body!! Love him and want him to live forever!!”
A second added, “
His passion is contagious. Good for him and his weight loss!” while another raved, “Can’t love this guy any more than I already do!!!! He’s the real deal .” Another encouraged, “Keep it up!! You’re doing great, one step at a time and you got this!”
Someone else pointed out the noticeable changes, “You look amazing. You’re absolutely killing it. I noticed a few weeks ago when I was watching a video how much you have thinned down you can tell it in your body and your face. Way to go Jelly keep it up [sic] .”
In addition to the overwhelming fan support, Larios has continuously praised Jelly Roll’s progress during the tour. On September 16, he shared that the singer has been “absolutely crushing” his health journey.
“The habits he’s been building are truly life changing and he’s doing this while also changing lives on this 56 city tour. Excited for him to show the world he’s just getting warmed up [sic]!” disclosed Larios.
Jelly Roll’s commitment to health hasn’t just been about diet and exercise on tour; it’s been a long-term effort. Back in May 2024, the “Whitsitt Chapel” artist achieved another major milestone when he completed his first five-kilometer (5K) run.
Jelly Roll participated in the 2 Bears 5K, part of the “Netflix Is a Joke” comedy festival hosted by comedians Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer, and expressed his excitement after the event. “I couldn’t walk a mile when I started trying to do this back in January,” he recalled.
Jelly Roll spoke enthusiastically about the impact he and other larger participants had, noting how many people shared their motivation with him after the run.
He also highlighted the event’s diverse and fun atmosphere, mentioning unique participants like a man in a bear suit and people enjoying beers alongside those achieving personal records.
The experience left Jelly Roll “really motivated” to continue his health journey, and he shared that he and Kreischer got emotional at the finish line. He also admitted to feeling “a little tired,” adding, “It was a little bit harder than I thought it was [going to be], but it’s awesome, man.”
Jelly Roll and Bert Kreischer at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, on May 7, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Looking ahead, Jelly Roll declared, “Next year, a half marathon! We’re saying it now, absolutely!” Leading up to the 5K, Jelly Roll trained rigorously.
Jelly Roll | Source: Getty Images
In April, Jelly Roll shared how he was working out two to three miles a day, four to six days a week. He also incorporated 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna and six minutes in a cold plunge daily. “I’m probably down 70-something pounds,” he said of his progress.
Jelly Roll expressed confidence and his intention to lose even more weight. “If I feel this good down this weight, man, I can only imagine what I’m going to feel like by the time I go on tour,” he said.
Jelly Roll performs at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 12, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
Part of his motivation stemmed from public concern about his health. Fans expressed worry after Bunnie XO, disclosed that he stepped back from social media due to bullying related to his weight.
Reflecting on this challenging period, the acclaimed musician shared, “I feel incredible. I’m surrounded by friends and family.”
In addition to his personal achievements this year, Jelly Roll continues to excel as a musician. He has already won several accolades from the iHeartRadio Music Awards and Country Music Television (CMT) Music Awards. He also received his first four nominations for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards.
Jelly Roll poses with his awards in the press room during the 2024 CMT Music Awards on April 7, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
In music and health, Jelly Roll’s transformation continues to inspire fans who eagerly anticipate the next chapter of his journey, cheering him on every step of the way.
