Country music fans were excited to see Jelly Roll perform with Ashley McBryde during the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th birthday celebration on March 19. They were supposed to do a tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, which was expected to be a big highlight of the night.
But, at the last minute, Jelly Roll was missing from the lineup — and fans were left wondering why.
Post Malone Stepped In — But Fans Still Missed Jelly Roll
When Jelly Roll didn’t show up, Post Malone stepped in to perform the duet with Ashley McBryde. The performance turned out to be a hit and became one of the most talked-about moments of the night. Still, many fans felt disappointed and were curious about Jelly Roll’s absence, especially because no official explanation was given right away.
Jelly Roll Explains His Absence: “I Just Couldn’t Beat the Fever”
This week, Jelly Roll finally opened up about what happened during an episode of The Pivot Podcast. The singer revealed that he was seriously ill with a fever and just couldn’t shake it off in time for the big show.
“It broke my heart,” Jelly Roll said. “I just could not break this fever. I probably slept like 20 hours.”
For someone like Jelly, who is used to performing even when sick, missing such an important event wasn’t easy. He mentioned that during his 2024 tour, he even performed after a hospital visit due to illness.
A Lesson From His Grandfather: “Working Sick Builds Character”
Jelly Roll shared a story from his childhood that shows why he rarely cancels shows. His uncle once told him about calling in sick to his father (Jelly’s grandfather), only to hear, “That’s good, working sick builds character. I’ll see you in a minute.”
Because of that mindset, Jelly takes pride in showing up no matter how he feels. “Anytime I’m so sick that I can’t go, it scares me,” he said. “Especially because I’ve been so focused on getting my health right.”
“It Breaks My Soul”: Missing a Milestone Like the Opry 100
According to Jelly, he has only canceled one show in the last five years due to sickness — and sadly, it was this one at the historic Grand Ole Opry.
“It breaks my soul,” he admitted. “I hated it, man.”
Jelly also said he suffers from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and doesn’t like skipping any event. After spending many years not doing much with his life, he now wants to grab every opportunity.
“I wanna be as many places as I can be doing as much as I can possibly be doing,” he added.
Jelly Roll’s Busy Life and Fan Love
Jelly Roll has quickly become one of country music’s biggest stars. He’s a regular at music festivals, award shows, and special events. Along with that, he often appears on podcasts and keeps a busy tour schedule.
Because of his constant presence, fans notice right away when he’s not around — just like they did when he also missed the 2025 Grammy Awards, even though he was nominated in two categories. He had been in Los Angeles just days before, playing a benefit show and a free concert for first responders.