While becoming a top name in country music, Jelly Roll wanted nothing more than to help others through his music. Always finding ways to share his story with fans, the singer watched as his career exploded thanks to songs like “Somebody Save Me”, “Son of a Sinner”, and “Need a Favor.” With the country star giving back to those who helped shape his career, Dwayne Johnson finally got the chance to meet Jelly Roll and explain just how much the singer helped him through a difficult time.
Videos by American Songwriter
Getting his start as a wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation, Johnson eventually left the ring to explore a career in Hollywood. That decision led him to roles in films that included The Other Guys, Moana, and even Get Smart. We won’t talk about The Mummy Returns. But with Johnson growing his net worth to over $800 million, he found himself struggling with his mental health. That was where Jelly Roll stepped in.
Posting a video of the pair meeting and sharing a hug, Johnson wrote in the caption, “Several years ago (roughly 2017) I was going through a very hard thing at the time, I was struggling. My mental wellness turned into my mental hellness. Many of you know the drill, you put on “the face”, show up to work, smile and get through it. Perhaps not the healthiest thing to do, but it’s what I was used to doing at the time.”
[RELATED: Jelly Roll & Post Malone Give Impromptu Performance of Toby Keith’s “Who’s Your Daddy?”]
Dwayne Johnson Shares A Piece Of His Past With Jelly Roll
Hoping to bury his emotional struggles, Johnson found himself facing his troubles when listening to Jelly Roll’s “Only.” “The words moved me so much that I reached out to Jelly. I said you don’t know me and I don’t know you, but this song of yours is helping me through some stuff I’m dealing with. I just called to say thank you brother.”
While getting a “Thank You” from Johnson was a gift in itself, the actor took it a step further when they met. “It’s an old, and cheap postcard of a little motel called the Alamo Plaza in south Nashville. When I was 15yrs I was forced (family was evicted) to leave Hawaii and make it to Nashville to live with my dad. That didn’t work out so I wound up living with a stranger in this little spot on Murfreesboro Road that has since been torn down and no longer there.”
Although not a highlight of Johnson’s career, it reminded him of his journey to stardom. And with Jelly Roll traveling the same road when fashioning his career in country music, the postcard appeared to be the perfect gift.
As for Johnson, he used the moment to hopefully inspire others to keep pushing forward as he wrote, “Every once in a while we all get sliced up by life, but it’s amazing to see what kind of blessings and people that God and the universe will put in our lives to help us heal through our pain.”
(Photo by AFF-USA/Shutterstock)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.