Jelly Roll brought a sobering message of connection and comfort to the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night (Sept. 15), performing his emotional new song, “I Am Not Okay,” during the show’s In Memoriam tribute segment.
Set against a backdrop montage of the television industry stars we lost this year, Jelly appeared in an all-black ensemble and shared a powerful message with the crowd.
“I believe that music is therapeutic. I believe that music can heal. I also believe that storytelling is just as cathartic,” the singer said from the stage.
“I hope that this song can act as a healing moment for those mourning the storytellers we have lost this year,” he continued. “If you are feeling lost or alone tonight, I want you to know that it’s okay to not always be okay.”
Jelly’s dressed-up performance was backed by a sweeping strings section, as names of late stars like Shannen Doherty, Martin Mull, Richard Lewis, Chance Perdomo and more luminaries appeared across the backdrop of the stage.
“I am Not Okay” is the first single that Jelly released off his upcoming Beautifully Broken album, which will arrive in full on Oct. 11. The singer has often pulled inspiration for his music from his turbulent past — “Save Me,” “She” and “Son of a Sinner” are all key examples — but he has said that “I am Not Okay” was written in part as a reflection on the stories fans have shared with him about their own struggles and grief.
Related: Here Are the Lyrics to Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay”
Jelly’s Emmys performance drew some mixed responses from viewers. Many appreciated his heartfelt delivery and powerful message of connection, but some thought “I Am Not Okay” — a song that focuses on mental health — was an inappropriate choice to remember this year’s late legends, many of whom died of natural causes.
“Choosing to sing a song about depression, suicidal thoughts and hanging on is a curious choice for the ‘in memoriam’ section of The Emmys. Did I miss something with the way these folks passed?” one X user wondered.
“Not a dig on Jelly Roll or his lovely song, but pairing it with the In Memoriam segment of the Emmys is giving major suicide vibes,” another opined.
However, others pointed out that the song’s message could serve as comfort for those loved ones left behind after loss.
“A lot of the lyrics could also describe the feelings of grief,” one fan said. “I can see why it was picked.”
“Jelly Roll making me totally ugly cry right now. What a song to sing for the ones we’ve lost,” another added.
Jelly is currently in the midst of his Beautifully Broken headlining tour, which is scheduled to continue through October. The trek is currently gearing up for dates in Florida and South Carolina. On Sunday night’s red carpet, he told People that his trip to the Emmy Awards, held in Los Angeles, came about because “God had a little side quest for me” in the middle of his tour.
He also said that he hopes to be back, joking that he’ll need to pick up some television roles to get invited to the Emmys again sometime soon.
“I want to be in a TV show now so I can come here every year, dude,” Jelly said. “I’m calling all my country music friends and telling them, ‘We are missing the mark, dude. We gotta be at the Emmys.'”
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