Los Angeles (April 2, 2024) – Multi-genre phenomenon Jelly Roll and GRAMMY winner Lainey Wilson continue to see their effervescent stars rise, as they both take home wins at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards last night. Prior to Jelly and Wilson’s powerfully haunting performance of #1 single “Save Me” that evoked an impassioned standing ovation from the crowd, Shinedown announced Jelly Roll had won both Best New Artist (Country) and Best New Artist (Pop), continuing his truly transformative journey to mainstream super-stardom. Earlier in the show, it was announced, Wilson had won Country Song of the Year for her #1 hit single “Heart Like A Truck” off her GRAMMY Award-winning Country Album of the Year, Bell Bottom Country.
In the Stoney Creek Records/BMG Nashville artist Jelly Roll’s acceptance speech, he said: “My mama always told me I had a face for radio, baby! Man, I remember being a kid in the backseat of the car with my brothers. I had three older brothers and an older sister. All we did was ride around and listen to the radio, and we sung every single word. I never would have dreamed I would be one of the voices coming through your radio and to be the Best New Country Artist to represent country music and the Best New Pop Artist. You don’t know what it means to a kid like me. I was thinking about it. What does it mean when a guy like me has the opportunity to be the new pop artist of the year at iHeart Radio Awards? It means that God will always use the least likely messenger with the biggest message, every single time. You can take it to the bank, baby. I love you Jesus, and I love you Bunnie, my wife. Thank you for everything.”
KEEP UP WITH JELLY ROLL
ABOUT JELLY ROLL:
Award-winning, Grammy nominated Nashville native singer/songwriter Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord) debuted Top 3 on the Billboard 200 All Genre Chart and #2 on the Top Country Album charts with his debut Country Album, Whitsitt Chapel (released June 2nd, 2023) – earning the biggest Country debut album in Billboard Consumption Chart history. Following his sweep at the 2023 CMT Music Awards where he earned 3 awards to become the most awarded artist of the night, the Billboard Country Power List Cover star and “country’s ‘most authentic’ new artist” (The New Yorker) recently received Billboard’s 2023 Breakthrough Award and the People’s Choice Award for Male Country Artist of the Year. Nominated for Best New Artist and Best Duo/Group Performance for “Save Me (with Lainey Wilson)” at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards, along with eight genre-spanning nominations at the 2024 iHeartRadio Radios, Jelly Roll is also one of three artists, which include Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs, who have scored three Country Airplay #1s in 2023. “One of Nashville’s fastest rising stars” (The New York Times), Jelly was a 4X winner at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards and was the most nominated male at the 2023 CMA Awards, with five total nominations, capturing his first CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. His #1 hit single “Save Me” — a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt— set the stage for his new season of life and took him to new heights and Platinum certification from the RIAA. Jelly debuted the song along with Lainey Wilson at the 2023 ACM Awards on the heels of his 28-week reign at No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart. “Save Me” became his third consecutive #1 single in 2023 following his multi-week #1 hits on Country and Rock radio, “Need A Favor” and “Son of A Sinner.”
His current single “Halfway To Hell” is on radio now, and he recently teased his upcoming Beautifully Broken Tour.
As an artist and humanitarian – he continues to resonate with fans on a global scale and earn numerous industry milestones – from playing his sold-out hometown show for 18,000 fans at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to sold-out dates at the Ryman Auditorium and the release of his critically acclaimed Hulu documentary produced by ABC News, “Save Me.” Featured by Nightline, GMA, GMA3, The New York Times, The Tennessean, Billboard, Variety, American Songwriter, CMT and more, his self-built, unconventional industry rise and unique fan connection has garnered praise from numerous outlets, with Variety noting, “for everyone who’s facing the same struggles, Jelly Roll is their Springsteen,” and American Songwriter echoing, “with a string of accolades and an extremely dedicated following, Jelly Roll has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.”
KEEP UP WITH LAINEY WILSON
ABOUT LAINEY WILSON:
GRAMMY award winning, prolific singer-songwriter, Lainey Wilson has earned the enthusiasm and praise of the industry. Critically acclaimed and touted as ‘Entertainer of the Year,’ the Louisiana native who has often been described as a “bona fide storyteller at work,” has made a name for herself as a next generation icon. Constantly defying the traditional norms and conventions of the Country music genre, Wilson’s “rulebreaking” achievements have led her to numerous accolades and a diehard fanbase.
Nearly 10 years to the day after leaving her small farming community in a camper trailer to chase her dreams in Nashville, she earned her first PLATINUM certified song, with “Things A Man Oughta Know,” and won over legions of fans across the globe with her signature sound and aesthetic, blending traditional Country with a modern yet retro flare.
Thus far, her music has taken her worldwide with headlining shows in Europe, the UK, Australia, and more. With six No.1 songs to date, Wilson has become the lead female artist with the most No.1’s this decade along with two GRAMMY nominations, six ACM, and seven CMA awards. Her current radio single, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” is her seventh consecutive record to break the top 10 at Country Radio and is rapidly climbing the charts.
Making her acting debut in Season 5 of Paramount’s smash hit seriesYellowstone, Wilson has become a triple-threat in the industry, claiming the roles of singer, songwriter, and actress. Fans can also catch Wilson on her upcoming, “Country’s Cool Again,” headlining North American tour later this Summer.
