Jelly Roll Gets Candid About Drugs: 'Marijuana Has Kept Me Sober'

Jelly Roll is one of those artists that isn't afraid to speak his own truths. If you ask him a serious question, you're going to get a serious answer — even if that question is about drugs.

Jelly Roll Gets Candid About Drug Use

I recently had a long sit-down with the "Halfway to Hell" singer, and I asked him if he was still smoking weed, even though he has been on a health kick lately, getting ready for a half-marathon.

Jelly said, "I get in trouble for this, all the time, but my stance on marijuana will always be the same: I believe marijuana has helped me in so many regards, with my anxiety. This is a hot button topic, but, truly, marijuana has kept me sober."

Jelly Roll paused, took a moment, and then admitted this to me:

"I think a world without weed, Jelly Roll's drinking codeine and popping Xanax and snorting cocaine again, but a world with weed, I'll be alright."

Jelly wanted to be sure that he spoke about addiction, as he is always a pillar for change in that regard.

The "Save Me" singer said, "I know that I have friends that don't do that. I have friends that are in the program that are totally against any kind of mind-altering anything. I respect that. I have so much respect for those people. That's just not how my sobriety worked out."

Jelly Roll's latest song, "Halfway to Hell," is quickly climbing up the Billboard Country Airplay chart and is poised to be his 4th consecutive No. 1 record at country radio.

During an interview that was published to Taste of Country YouTube on Friday, and drop at the Taste of Country Nights, On Demand podcast on Wednesday (May 29), Jelly Roll opens up about how the stories he's heard since he began to tell his truth have shaped the next record.

"I've never been more inspired," he shares, adding that he wrote over 150 songs for the project.

"Liar," the song he sang at the 2024 ACM Awards, is one of those new songs, but it may not get an official release. Lyrically, he confronts addiction with a chorus that goes:

"Now I know, you ain’t nothing but a liar / Yeah I walk right out that fire / Yeah you try to keep me down / Try to put me underground / I’m only going higher."

"She" and his breakthrough hit "Save Me" do the same. Another new song called "I Am Not OK" speaks to his mental health journey. He first shared the song on The Voice earlier this week, singing:

"I know I can't be the only one who's holding on for dear life / But I know God knows when it's all said and done / I'm not okay, but it's all gonna be alright / It's not OK, but we're all gonna be alright."

Since focusing on his health, Jelly Roll says he's been eating much better, taking supplements to help with his metabolism and been selective about when he parties. In fact, he named three of the very few occasions he had a drink in 2024: last week's ACM Awards, last month's CMT Music Awards and the iHeartRadio Awards in April.

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. He plays the best new country music and interviews today's top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!

Jelly Roll: 23 Stunning Facts About the 'Save Me' Singer

Jelly Roll is country music's most fascinating character. His life has taken dozens of wild twists and turns, and he's been honest about all of it. Here are 23 facts about the "Save Me" singer and his family.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

30 Country Stars You Won't Believe Aren't Grand Ole Opry Members

Fifteen living CMA or ACM Entertainers of the Year are not members of the Grand Ole Opry, and a few of them barely recognize the vaunted stage. George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Willie Nelson are three legends who rarely play the Grand Ole Opry. Why?

That answer is often difficult to determine, but this list suggests reasons where appropriate. Membership into the Grand Ole Opry comes with an obligation to play the show frequently, but that's often set aside (Barbara Mandrell is an inactive member, for example). Only living artists are considered, and once a member dies, they are no longer a member.

For that reason, we've not included any country legends who've passed. That eliminates Toby Keith.

As of 2023, there are more than 70 members of the Grand Ole Opry. Historically, nearly 250 men, women and groups were members — so, it's a select group that excludes several Country Music Hall of Famers.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

Filed Under: Jelly Roll