It’s hard to tell who’s more excited about Jelly Roll being named the first artist-in-residence on “American Idol” in 2025: the fans or Jelly Roll. On March 3, the country superstar told “Entertainment Tonight” that he can’t quite believe ABC is letting him be such an integral part of the series he loves.
“Dude, I’m such a fan,” he told ET. “That’s how I got the job. Just fanning my way into the job was proving how much I know and love about ‘American Idol.'”
Jelly Roll Says He’s Hoping For a ‘Lifelong Contract’ With Show
On February 4, ABC made the surprise announcement that Jelly Roll was joining the “American Idol” cast for season 23 as the show’s first-ever artist-in-residence, mentoring contestants throughout the season.
Fans and contestants loved the guidance and energy Jelly Roll brought to the show during season 22, when he was a celebrity mentor for the episodes filmed in Hawaii. While there will still be celebrity mentors in Hawaii for season 23 — Ashanti and Josh Groban — Jelly Roll will also be on-hand.
He told ET that he’s “so invested” in the contestants because he knows how much this experience has the potential to change the trajectory of their lives, noting how his career — even before he was topping the country stars — helped him leave behind a life of being in and out of prison in his teens and early 20s.
“Music changed my life,” he told the outlet. “Before I wrote a song that impacted (on the charts), music changed my life. These kids are on the verge of having their life changed, and their life is changing. Some of them will never work a regular job again. They’ll sing the rest of their life. Some of them just needed that courage (for) the rest of their life to go home and kick ass in something else.”
Jelly Roll told ET it’s a thrill for him “knowing what these hopefuls go through to try to get there, and being part of it and being able to mentor these people.”
“I feel wrong that, like, they let me come on (the show),” Jelly Roll laughed. “You know what I mean? Like, I can’t believe they let me do that on TV. It’s crazy.”
But the singer, whose latest hit is “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake, is enjoying the role so much that he’s gunning for a full-time, permanent role on the show.
“What I want to do is get a permanent artist-in-residency there,” he told ET. “Okay? That’s my dream right now — is that it never could be anybody but me and ‘American Idol’ signs a lifelong contract for Jelly Roll to be the mentor artist-in-residence.”
Jelly Roll Says Talent on Season 23 is ‘Unbelievable’
In a promo video announcing Jelly Roll’s role on season 23, he told host Ryan Seacrest that in consistently working with the contestants, “I feel like I’m giving them the energy they need, I’m uplifting and trying to get ’em going!”
Whatever he’s doing seems to be working. Though fans have only had a glimpse at the contestants on a half-hour preview that aired on March 2, Jelly Roll told ET that because he’s been filming the episodes that will air beginning on March 9, “I know what’s going on right now and it’s unbelievable.”
Jelly Roll also told ET that he’s loving working with judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and newcomer judge Carrie Underwood.
“Lionel and Luke are the dudes, man,” he gushed. “They’re the funniest. By the way, they’re who y’all see them (as) on ‘American Idol’ — they’re double that. If you catch them at a dinner table, they’re a hoot and a half, dude. They are funny funny!”
“And let me tell y’all — spoiler alert — Carrie Underwood is killin’ it,” he added. “Carrie Underwood is special. It’s on fire.”
Season 23 of “American Idol” premieres on March 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern time on ABC, and will be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
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Jelly Roll Spills on New Season of ‘American Idol’ & Admits He’s Hoping for ‘Permanent Role’