Yelawolf is pulling back the curtain on his long friendship with Jelly Roll, revealing that he once gifted the now-superstar a brand-new Chevrolet Silverado during a period when Jelly Roll was struggling financially.
The country-adjacent rapper spoke about his relationship with Jelly Roll during an appearance on Taste of Country Nights, offering a rare ground-level look at the Antioch, Tennessee native’s road to becoming one of Nashville’s most talked-about artists. Both men share deep roots in Antioch, and Yelawolf described Jelly Roll as family — a bond forged well before mainstream country came calling.
A Friendship Built in Antioch
Despite living in the same community and running in overlapping social circles, the two didn’t actually cross paths until Shooter Jennings made the introduction at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. From there, Yelawolf says, things moved quickly. “We just became fast friends,” he explained, adding that he recorded what he believes was Jelly Roll’s first singer-songwriter song. “That might have sparked that for him,” Yelawolf said.
Yelawolf also gave Jelly Roll early opportunities on the road, bringing him along as an opener on tour. He recalled one particularly telling moment: Jelly Roll showed up to a show driving a Crown Victoria — a former police cruiser, complete with spotlight, no license plate, and no license. “Ridin’ dirty,” as Yelawolf put it.
The Truck That Became a Symbol of Loyalty
That generosity extended beyond stage time. When Jelly Roll hit a low point, Yelawolf says he handed over a brand-new Chevrolet Silverado so Jelly Roll could transport his family during the Christmas season. “That’s my dog,” Yelawolf said simply. “He’s been family for a long time.”
Reflecting on Jelly Roll’s meteoric rise, Yelawolf described him as a “20-year overnight success” — someone who ground away in obscurity for two decades before breaking through. “Something clicked in Jelly, obviously, and he rolled the dice and it worked,” he said. “It’s been mind-blowing watching his growth and stardom. He deserves everything he’s got.”
Yelawolf himself has new music on the horizon — an album titled 45, due later this month, that incorporates elements of country and Americana. He has already released a single from the project called “My Country.”
