Jelly Roll thanks Jesus for saving and changing his life during his 2026 Grammy Awards acceptance speech

As music’s biggest artists took center stage at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, Jelly Roll stood out for more than just his win. While he made history as the first artist to take home the newly split country category for Best Contemporary Country Album, it was his acceptance speech that truly stopped the room turning a career milestone into a moment of testimony, hope, and faith in Jesus.

“There was a time in my life, y’all, that I was broken. That’s why I wrote this album. I didn’t think I had a chance,” Jelly Roll shared. “There were days that I thought the darkest things. I was a horrible human.”

His album Beautifully Broken reflects much of that journey — the pain, the mistakes, and the redemption. Songs like “Liar,” “I’m Not Okay,” and “Heart of Stone” quickly resonated with listeners, topping charts and striking a chord with people who know what it feels like to wrestle with darkness.

In “Heart of Stone,” Jelly Roll sings, “Angels only meet you where you are and I’m in the dark.” That same message echoed powerfully during his speech when he recalled his lowest moments.

“There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big, and a radio the same size, and a six-by-eight-foot cell,” he said. “I believed that those two things could change my life. I believed that music had the power to change my life, and God had the power to change my life.”

Then came the line that felt less like an awards speech and more like a message.

“Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label. Jesus is Jesus, and anybody can have a relationship with Him. I love you, Lord.”

Jelly Roll also won a grammy alongside Brandon Lake for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for“Hard Fought Hallelujah.” Lake shared the same sentiment as Jelly Roll saying, “If it wasn’t for Jesus, I don’t know where I would be, y’all.”

Beautifully Broken — Just Like Us

Jelly Roll’s story is a reminder that none of us come to Jesus cleaned up. We come broken, messy, doubtful, and sometimes convinced we’ve gone too far. But the Gospel has always been clear: Jesus meets us right where we are.

Scripture tells us, “… While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NASB). Not after we fixed ourselves. Not after we earned it. Right in the middle of our brokenness.

The Reality of the Gospel

Jesus came to save the world — not the polished, perfect version of it, but the real one. The hurting. The ashamed. The forgotten. The imprisoned. The ones who think their past disqualifies them from grace.

Jelly Roll’s testimony reminds us of this truth: no cell is too small, no sin too big, and no past too dark for Jesus to redeem. If God can transform a six-by-eight-foot cell into the starting point of a new life, He can do the same for anyone willing to say yes.

You are not too far gone.

You are not too broken.

You are not beyond saving.

Jesus is still in the business of changing lives — and He’s for everybody. If this story resonates with you, take heart in the promise that Jesus said,

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Luke 5:32 NASB).

If you feel disqualified by your past, you’re exactly who Jesus came for.

Right where you are, hope is still being offered. If you’re carrying guilt, regret, or doubt today, remember God’s love is still present — and hope is still alive.

“And Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5 NASB).

So wherever you are today, His grace is not finished with you.

To dive deeper and learn more about who Jesus is, check out this FREE, short and simple study from World’s Biggest Small Group.

Who is Jesus?