SALEM, Ore. — Grammy-nominated country star Jelly Roll stopped by the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) on Tuesday alongside Oregon's very own Jacquie Roar for a heartwarming performance at the prison yard.
The 39-year-old country singer stated Tuesday was the first time the prison reportedly allowed live music on the yard in 20 years. He took to Instagram to express the reasoning behind his surprise performance, stating his "brother" Oregon author and famous bowhunter Cameron Hanes told him about his powerful trip to the prison a few months back. After further conversation, Hanes urged him to perform live music at the prison yard. Months later, the "Save Me" singer did just that.
The singer was in the Portland area as his "Beautifully Broken" made a stop at the Moda Center on Sunday.
Jelly Roll was incarcerated multiple times throughout his youth and revealed to the inmates that he wrote his first song while serving time. "I wrote my first song behind the walls. It never feels better than to come back behind the wall and sing a song for y’all."
In the same post with images documenting his visit, he also expressed the value in bringing light to a "dark place" while reflecting on his personal experience, emphasizing the idea that all humans deserve grace.
"...It felt so good bringing a little light to such a dark place. I am a firm believer that if we commit crimes we should do our time and be held accountable for our actions , but I also believe that every human deserves love no matter how bad of a decision they have made. It felt good to go love on these guys. I remember being in a dark place and no one ever coming through and showing us any hope of changing the path of our lives, if one inmate was inspired to do better by my presence yesterday it was worth my weight in gold to stop by and sing. Thank you to the staff and especially the captains. It was chicken soup for the soul."
In a reel also posted to socials captioned, "just trying to spread love," was a montage of moments documented throughout his visit. Inmates attend the live performance and had personal items signed by the "Son of a Sinner" singer. Jelly Roll also fittingly paid homage to Johnny Cash by crooning Cash’s "Folsom Prison Blues," which he gave a special rendition changing the lyrics to Oregon State Prison.
The country star also spoke words of upliftment and encouragement to the inmates urging them to place their passions in their hobbies.
"If you love drawing, if you love writing, if you love poetry, if you love listening to music, playing the guitar, I just pray that you put that passion into it and live it as much as you possibly can."
One prisoner even attested that Roll's music played a role in his sobriety, "When I heard "Save Me" on the radio, I got clean that day."
KGW reached out to OSP for comment and is waiting for a response.
