Joe Rogan is used to changing people’s lives, as millions of viewers listen to his guests each week. But one surprise brought Jelly Roll to tears in a moment he will never forget.
On Wednesday’s episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” the 41-year-old singer was visibly emotional after Rogan introduced a pre-taped message from country music star Craig Morgan — welcoming the “Need a Favor” singer as an official member of the prestigious Grand Ole Opry.
“I’ll never forget meeting you [at] the Grand Ole Opry and how much it meant to me to hear you say my music helped you get through some really tough times,” Morgan said. “That’s one thing country music does really well. And who would’ve ever dreamed back then that I’d be back at the Opry House today to say Jelly Roll, you’re officially invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It’s an honor to say welcome to the family, brother.”
Jelly Roll instantly broke down in tears, burying his face in his hands. He want on to tell Rogan that he had previously bought tickets to the Opry just to see Morgan on stage.
“I cried and cried,” Jelly Roll recollected from the experience. “I cried like I’m crying here now, and I just remember thinking, ‘Man, I wanna make people feel the way he makes me feel. That’s what I want to do. I did it, Joe.”
Jelly Roll, who recently opened up his significant weight loss transformation, took his excitement to social media after the recording.
“I don’t even know what to say right now y’all. They invited me to be a member of the Opry. CRAIG MORGAN INVITED ME TO BE A MEMBER OF THE OPRY!!!!” Jelly Roll wrote on Instagram alongside a video of the special moment.
“I’m honored beyond words and I can’t stop pinching myself. To everyone at the Opry, y’all are like family to me. To Craig Morgan, no matter how many times I say it i’ll never be able to tell you enough how much this has all meant to me. I love you Joe Rogan.”
What does it mean to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry?
Becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry is one of the highest honors in country music.
It recognizes an artist’s achievements while symbolizing their commitment to the Opry’s traditions and community.
Members are expected to perform regularly — at least 10 times a year — and serve as ambassadors for the genre.
Induction connects artists to a historic legacy dating back to 1925, making it both a career milestone and a lifelong bond with the Opry family.
They are also welcomed into the “Opry family,” joining a lineage of legends like Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire.
While in Minneapolis to open for Post Malone, country star Jelly Roll made a surprise visit to the Hennepin County Jail, where he shared his story of incarceration and redemption with inmates.
