Jelly Roll Added This Song to His Setlist After a Woman Said It Changed Her Life: “75,000 People Are Celebrating You”

Growing up in poverty in rural Tennessee, Jelly Roll cycled in and out of substance use and incarceration in his younger years. Spending nearly two decades in hip-hop, the “Son of a Sinner” crooner’s life took a drastic upward turn with the 2023 release of his country music debut, Whitsitt Chapel. Not only establishing himself as a country music mainstay, Jelly’s music has been a lifeline for those also struggling with addiction and their mental health. During a recent show, the CMA Award-winning artist changed his setlist to help a woman celebrate her own triumph.

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“Jelly Roll, Your Song Changed My Life”

Joining Kane Brown for Buckeye Country Superfest at Columbus’ Ohio Stadium Saturday (June 21), Jelly (born Jason DeFord) hadn’t planned to perform “Winning Streak” off last year’s Beautifully Broken album. That changed, however, when he caught sight of a woman holding a doll in the crowd. The doll bore a message: “Jelly Roll, your song changed my life.”

“She’s 28 months clean,” the “Need a Favor” singer told the crowd. “We had no intention of playing this song, and we definitely didn’t plan on playing it as one of the first songs we sung. But for you and anybody else that might be celebrating their recovery tonight or their sobriety… You’re 28 months clean, but I bet you remember that first day, don’t you?”

He continued, “This song was about somebody having their first day clean. It’s called ‘Winning Streak.’ This is for you. This is to celebrate you, baby — 75,000 people are celebrating you, girl!”

Taking the doll, Jelly launched into the song: The broken glass of a bottle makes a jagged rock bottom / And right now I got two shaky hands, only one way to stop ’em.

@life.with.ronnia

There was a woman he sung to last night, that was 28 months clean. That woman was in the row behind us, and I had her doll for a second and I asked who’s it was they pointed and I reached for her and said get up here! Ppl made room for her and she got to hold her doll up, then our whole section pointed at the doll and got Jelly’s attention… and as most of everyone seen it did! He sung winning streak to her! And this was from our POV. I hugged her and told her I was proud of her and that she has a purpose. ❤️❤️@Jelly Roll #columbusohio #buckeyecountrysuperfest #jellyroll #2025 #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #buckeyecountrysuperfest #columbusohio #fyp #winningstreak

♬ original sound – Life.With.Ronnia

He pointed in the woman’s direction when he reached the chorus, changing the lyrics. I was so ashamed to be in this seat ’til I met a woman who was 28 months clean, Jelly sang.

[RELATED: Jelly Roll Powers Through Emotional Duet With Nashville Elementary School at the Grand Ole Opry—and I’m Not Okay]

“he looked dead into her soul and told her SHE’S WORTH IT,” one TikTok user commented.

She Met Jelly After the Show

The woman’s cousin, Hailey Meacham, also posted footage of the moment, along with a picture they were able to snap with Jelly Roll after the show.

@haileymeacham19

not only did @Jelly Roll hold my cousins doll but we got a picture with him!!❤️ (end of video)

♬ original sound – Hailey Meacham

“she definitely deserves this praise!” Meacham wrote. “she is doing so good, we’re all so proud of her!”

Featured image by Steve Galli/Shutterstock