Jelly Roll's Emotional Acceptance: The Unseen Moments at the 2026 Grammys
The 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles was a spectacle of glamour and excitement, but behind the scenes, nominees, winners, and industry insiders shared heartfelt moments that didn't make it to television. One such moment belonged to country duo Jelly Roll, who won three awards, including Best Country Duo/Group Performance for his collaboration with Jelly Roll.
While accepting his award, Jelly Roll broke down in tears, sharing his personal story of being a child of immigrants and how this experience shapes the roots of country music. "My parents were born Nigeria and came here, my dad... I know the things he sacrificed," he said, choking back tears. "So to know that I'm an example of that and I'm from that lineage and I'm inspiring people hopefully and just trying to live up my fullest potential."
Jelly Roll also reflected on the history of country music, acknowledging the African diaspora's influence on the genre. He stated, "The banjo came from West Africa... Irish immigrants and Irish settlers came here along with people who were forced to be here to work on this country. They kept their stories, they kept their traditions, they could have let all of that die with them."
The artist later spoke about his weight loss journey, crediting consistent cardio and food changes for shedding 275 pounds. He emphasized the importance of self-care and mental therapy in overcoming addiction. "I had to really take it serious; I had to change my relationship with food... Never did a GLP-1, but I don’t judge nobody who does it."
When asked about his advice to people struggling with hard times, Jelly Roll advocated for connecting with others and finding community. "The saddest feeling that we can all feel is hopelessness and loneliness. I say plug into something. Find a community... If you're struggling with drugs, I suggest you go find an AA room or an NA room."
Lola Young, the British artist behind the hit song "Messy," reflected on why her song resonates so deeply with listeners. She stated, "I feel like 'Messy' is a song that symbolizes how we all feel... It's about being a messy human being and not being enough for the world."
Young also discussed her hiatus from music last year, citing a need to take care of herself after collapsing on stage at All Things Go Festival. She expressed gratitude for the experience and stated, "I'm back and I'll do as much as I can to be good for my fans and to be good for the people that love me."
The songwriting team behind K-Pop sensation "Golden" arrived backstage to discuss their award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The group's EJAE expressed pride in representing Korean culture, stating, "So proud to be Korean... Seeing people singing Korean lyrics word by word means so much. I think this award is about that representation; today is about celebrating culture and music that unites all cultures."
Jon Batiste, who won his eighth Grammy for Best Americana Album, reflected on the significance of celebrating Black music legends like Roberta Flack and D'Angelo. "It's bigger than me, it's bigger than anybody, it's bigger than any award," he said.
Finally, SZA emphasized the importance of artists speaking out on social issues, calling for a sense of hope and unity in these tumultuous times. She stated, "I really believe in great possibility... I encourage everyone to take care of each other." The room erupted into applause as she wrapped up her remarks.
The 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles was a spectacle of glamour and excitement, but behind the scenes, nominees, winners, and industry insiders shared heartfelt moments that didn't make it to television. One such moment belonged to country duo Jelly Roll, who won three awards, including Best Country Duo/Group Performance for his collaboration with Jelly Roll.
While accepting his award, Jelly Roll broke down in tears, sharing his personal story of being a child of immigrants and how this experience shapes the roots of country music. "My parents were born Nigeria and came here, my dad... I know the things he sacrificed," he said, choking back tears. "So to know that I'm an example of that and I'm from that lineage and I'm inspiring people hopefully and just trying to live up my fullest potential."
Jelly Roll also reflected on the history of country music, acknowledging the African diaspora's influence on the genre. He stated, "The banjo came from West Africa... Irish immigrants and Irish settlers came here along with people who were forced to be here to work on this country. They kept their stories, they kept their traditions, they could have let all of that die with them."
The artist later spoke about his weight loss journey, crediting consistent cardio and food changes for shedding 275 pounds. He emphasized the importance of self-care and mental therapy in overcoming addiction. "I had to really take it serious; I had to change my relationship with food... Never did a GLP-1, but I don’t judge nobody who does it."
When asked about his advice to people struggling with hard times, Jelly Roll advocated for connecting with others and finding community. "The saddest feeling that we can all feel is hopelessness and loneliness. I say plug into something. Find a community... If you're struggling with drugs, I suggest you go find an AA room or an NA room."
Lola Young, the British artist behind the hit song "Messy," reflected on why her song resonates so deeply with listeners. She stated, "I feel like 'Messy' is a song that symbolizes how we all feel... It's about being a messy human being and not being enough for the world."
Young also discussed her hiatus from music last year, citing a need to take care of herself after collapsing on stage at All Things Go Festival. She expressed gratitude for the experience and stated, "I'm back and I'll do as much as I can to be good for my fans and to be good for the people that love me."
The songwriting team behind K-Pop sensation "Golden" arrived backstage to discuss their award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The group's EJAE expressed pride in representing Korean culture, stating, "So proud to be Korean... Seeing people singing Korean lyrics word by word means so much. I think this award is about that representation; today is about celebrating culture and music that unites all cultures."
Jon Batiste, who won his eighth Grammy for Best Americana Album, reflected on the significance of celebrating Black music legends like Roberta Flack and D'Angelo. "It's bigger than me, it's bigger than anybody, it's bigger than any award," he said.
Finally, SZA emphasized the importance of artists speaking out on social issues, calling for a sense of hope and unity in these tumultuous times. She stated, "I really believe in great possibility... I encourage everyone to take care of each other." The room erupted into applause as she wrapped up her remarks.
come on, three awards just because you're from Nigeria? 
don't get me wrong, Jelly Roll's story is inspiring and all, but it feels like the Grammys are trying to be all inclusive these days and it's just not believable. how can one person win multiple awards for being a product of their upbringing? sounds like a total cash grab to me 
. I mean, his acceptance speech about being a child of immigrants and how it influenced country music was so deep 
. It's cool that he acknowledged the African diaspora's impact on the genre 
. 
. He talks about self-care, mental therapy, and finding community – that's really relatable 
. And can we talk about how he's just so humble and kind? 
It's amazing to see him advocating for others who are struggling with hard times.
. They're all spreading positivity and unity – it's so needed in these times 
. And can we give a round of applause to Jelly Roll for being an amazing role model? 
like he just opened up about his parents being from nigeria and how that shaped him and country music 
it's not just about physical health, but mental well-being too
and sza's message of hope and unity is so needed in these times 
It's a really honest and relatable message that we can all get behind.
, like anyone else in life 
you can have all the awards but still be struggling to make ends meet or dealing with addiction/mental health issues 
like jelly roll did his story is admirable but also a harsh reminder that the system isn't perfect 
. And what's up with the mental therapy and weight loss stuff? Is everyone at the Grammys trying to be inspirational now? 
He was totally right about country music being shaped by African diaspora traditions, it's amazing he's using his platform to celebrate that 
he's always been open about his struggles with weight and addiction but seeing him acknowledge the impact it had on his life is really powerful 
! Jelly Roll's speech about being a child of immigrants and how it shapes country music was literally so touching 
. I love how he acknowledged the African diaspora's influence on the genre and gave props to his parents for their sacrifices. It's like, we need more stories like that shared in public!
. He was sharing his personal story and acknowledging the impact of his heritage on country music - it's like he's breaking down barriers and opening doors for others to share their own stories 
It's so important to celebrate our differences and find common ground. And Jon Batiste's words about Black music legends are just... wow 
. SZA's message at the end is like a breath of fresh air - we need more leaders like her who care about spreading love and hope 
- all sentimental and emotional, right? It felt like they were trying to tug at our heartstrings, you know?
. We need more of that in the music industry and beyond. What are your thoughts on this whole Grammys thing?
. it's amazing how these artists are using their platforms to share their stories and spread love and hope 
he's trying to say that his parents' immigration story is inspiring, but it feels like he's using it as an excuse for his success instead of actually acknowledging the struggles they went through 
also can we talk about how he just casually drops being from nigeria and african diaspora heritage in the middle of a speech? kinda feels like he's trying to check off some diversity boxes 
also love that Lola Young from "Messy" is talking about the importance of self-care and mental health in her music 
and then he talked about how being a child of immigrants has shaped country music it's so beautiful 
275 pounds is huge!! and i love that he's all about self care and mental therapy now lol who else has struggled with addiction? 
anyway gotta say jelly roll seems like a super cool dude 
Let's give it up for all the artists who are using their music as a form of self-care and mental therapy - we need more of that, tbh 
It's great that she's using her platform to talk about self-care and finding community. We need more of that positivity in the music industry.
Her message about artists speaking out on social issues is so important right now.