An Unforgettable Night at the Opry: Jelly Roll Shares the Stage with Local Schoolchildren
Country music sensation Jelly Roll delivered a powerful and emotional moment during his June 5 performance at the Grand Ole Opry, surprising the audience by inviting a group of elementary school students to sing with him live on stage.
An Unforgettable Night at the Opry: Jelly Roll Shares the Stage with Local Schoolchildren
Country music sensation Jelly Roll delivered a powerful and emotional moment during his June 5 performance at the Grand Ole Opry, surprising the audience by inviting a group of elementary school students to sing with him live on stage.
As part of a star-studded Opry lineup kicking off CMA Fest 2025 in Nashville, Jelly Roll’s set included fan favorites and a memorable duet with Brandon Lake on “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” But the highlight of the evening came when he welcomed students from Ruby Major Elementary School to join him for a heartwarming rendition of “I Am Not Okay.”
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A Song That Became an Anthem
“I Am Not Okay” was released as the lead single from Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken album and quickly resonated with listeners. The song, which champions mental health awareness, topped the Country Airplay chart, earned RIAA Platinum certification, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song.
A Tribute to Healing and Community
Before the students took the stage, Jelly Roll explained how he discovered the Ruby Major kids. The group had previously performed “I Am Not Okay” at Antioch High School, a community still recovering from a tragic school shooting earlier this year. Moved by their courage and compassion, Jelly Roll said he was determined to find a way to sing with them.
“When I heard what these kids did, I knew I had to meet them—and I knew we had to sing this song together,” Jelly Roll told the crowd.
A Standing Ovation for the Kids
As the children walked onto the Opry stage, Jelly Roll gave each of them a high five before starting the song. Their young voices blended beautifully with his, bringing raw emotion and innocence to the lyrics. Near the end, Jelly Roll stepped back from the microphone, letting the kids sing the final chorus on their own—a moment that brought the audience to their feet.
🎥 Watch as students from Ruby Major Elementary join Jelly Roll on stage for a heartwarming performance at the Grand Ole Opry—see the video below.
As part of a star-studded Opry lineup kicking off CMA Fest 2025 in Nashville, Jelly Roll’s set included fan favorites and a memorable duet with Brandon Lake on “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” But the highlight of the evening came when he welcomed students from Ruby Major Elementary School to join him for a heartwarming rendition of “I Am Not Okay.”
-
x
-
A Song That Became an Anthem
“I Am Not Okay” was released as the lead single from Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken album and quickly resonated with listeners. The song, which champions mental health awareness, topped the Country Airplay chart, earned RIAA Platinum certification, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song.
A Tribute to Healing and Community
Before the students took the stage, Jelly Roll explained how he discovered the Ruby Major kids. The group had previously performed “I Am Not Okay” at Antioch High School, a community still recovering from a tragic school shooting earlier this year. Moved by their courage and compassion, Jelly Roll said he was determined to find a way to sing with them.
“When I heard what these kids did, I knew I had to meet them—and I knew we had to sing this song together,” Jelly Roll told the crowd.
A Standing Ovation for the Kids
As the children walked onto the Opry stage, Jelly Roll gave each of them a high five before starting the song. Their young voices blended beautifully with his, bringing raw emotion and innocence to the lyrics. Near the end, Jelly Roll stepped back from the microphone, letting the kids sing the final chorus on their own—a moment that brought the audience to their feet.
🎥 Watch as students from Ruby Major Elementary join Jelly Roll on stage for a heartwarming performance at the Grand Ole Opry—see the video below.
