Jelly Roll took a gamble with his fan base – and John Rich said the country star knew exactly what was at stake.Rich warned that the "Save Me" singer's candid political comments could cost him a significant portion of the audience that helped fuel his rise to stardom.Jelly Roll faced backlash after appearing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and speaking candidly about his political views, sparking a heated reaction among some country music fans.During an appearance on "The Benny Show," Rich said country music fans have long been drawn to artists who come across as authentic and willing to tell the truth.
He distinguished between singers who follow industry trends and artists who stand by what they believe, regardless of what is popular at the time.JELLY ROLL ROLLS AWAY FROM APOLITICAL PAST AFTER TRUMP JOKES SPARK MAGA AND ‘SNOWFLAKE’ LABELSJohn Rich says Jelly Roll knew the risk of speaking out on politics.(Getty Images)Pointing to country legends including Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, Rich said truth-telling has always carried significant weight with the genre’s audience.Rich said Jelly Roll has built much of his public story around redemption and the second chances he received in America after spending time behind bars.
He suggested the singer’s recent decision to speak candidly about his political views was significant because Jelly Roll knows his country music audience and likely understood the reaction his comments could provoke.JELLY ROLL ADMITS 'DUMB REDNECK' STATUS WHEN PUSHED ON POLITICS AFTER BRINGING GOD TO GRAMMYS STAGEJohn Rich argued that Jelly Roll’s appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" surprised listeners who were unfamiliar with his political views.(Disney via Getty Images)"He knows how this works.
OK? He knows who the audience is," the country music singer claimed."And so I have to think he really believes every single word he said, or he wouldn't have said it.""Because you know when you make statements that are t...