Jelly Roll is the kind of guy you call when you need a favor. Fans loved the way he helped out Wynonna Judd on stage at the CMA Awards during their soulful duet on “Need a Favor.” The song choice was fitting, as Wynonna had an episode of vertigo and grabbed onto Jelly Roll to keep her steady. The normally high-energy Jelly Roll saw what was happening and supported his friend as she held on to him for the rest of the song.
Despite the medical episode, Wynonna really brought the thunder vocally while Jelly Roll brought the soul. The passionate delivery from the two country stars, combined with Jelly Roll’s sweetness in supporting Wynonna, made the four million view video a fan favorite. The Music Man has to give it up for Wynonna for delivering the goods so powerfully even as she battled through the episode of vertigo.
Fans loved to see Jelly Roll and Wynonna sing together at the CMA Awards and added comments such as, “Can we all take a moment to recognize that Jelly Roll is a stand-up kind of guy? He could tell she needed him, and he didn’t let her down. What a guy!” and “Man, the way you held her up and gave her that experience was amazing. She still has a hell of a voice.”
Jelly Roll has given several memorable performances at the CMA Awards over the years. He scored another viral video when he teamed up with Brooks & Dunn to perform vocals on the duo’s ballad “Believe.” Jelly Roll is an expert at pulling on the heartstrings with his vocals, and he really shined here on the intimate piano ballad. Crowd members were seen tearing up towards the end of the emotional performance, which says it all.
Jelly Roll released “Need a Favor” on December 9, 2022, as the first single from his ninth studio album Whitsitt Chapel. The Music Man readers might be interested to hear that Jelly Roll penned the song with Rob Ragosta, Joe Ragosta, and Austin Nivarel, with the latter also handling production. As with much of the material on Whitsitt Chapel, “Need a Favor” addresses themes of sin and repentance. The lyrics refer to a man asking for a favor from God, but admitting that he has strayed far from God’s path and doesn’t deserve such a blessing. “Need a Favor” did some serious numbers, going double Platinum in the US, as well as Gold in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.