Now in its 23rd season, American Idol has legions of fans—among them country superstar Jelly Roll. The “Save Me” crooner’s debut as a mentor last season had viewers petitioning for him to replace Katy Perry on the judging panel. While that spot instead went to Carrie Underwood, Jelly (born Jason DeFord) wasn’t giving up that easily. He negotiated his way into the show’s first-ever artist in residence gig. Now he is offering some insight into the off-camera madness.
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Jelly Roll Is Back On ‘American Idol’
Hollywood Week, an American Idol tradition dating back to the show’s first season in 2002, continues Monday (April 7.) Now the auditions are over and the gloves have come off. More than half of the season 23 pool is gone after last week’s Hollywood premiere.
If scenes from Hollywood Week appeared chaotic onscreen, Jelly Roll says that’s nothing compared to how things actually were on the American Idol set. “The episodes are pretty chaotic, but the camera can’t catch all of the chaos,” the Grammy nominee told Billboard this week.
Seeing Jelly Roll stepping into American Idol as an artist in residence is inspiring. His journey from the roots of country life to center stage reminds us all that perseverance and authenticity can lead to incredible opportunities. Excited to see the influence of real-life…
— Chase Dalton (@_ChaseDalton_) February 27, 2025
However, he says the mayhem is an important harbinger of what to expect in the music industry. “It’s real. They’re not hazing these kids. This is stuff that happens in our business all the time,” Jelly Roll said. “I can’t wait for the world to see this – the show brings me in when the kids are picking their head-to-head songs, so I am in the trenches with these babies. I watch them pick their songs. I give them advice and I catch them picking their partners.”
“Some of them probably picked the wrong partner,” he added.
Jelly Is Taking His New Role Seriously
American Idol executive producer and showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick says that Jelly Roll brought “so much charisma and excitement” to his American Idol debut last year. And this year, the stakes are even higher.
“He literally watched every single tape. He watched every single bio,” Wolflick told Billboard. “He took the kids off to the side before going on camera and made them feel comfortable. I’ve never experienced mentoring on this level. I think carving out his role on the live shows is going to be interesting, too.”
Featured image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville
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