On Friday, April 11, Jelly Roll returned to television for a new role in the CBS drama Fire Country. It wasn’t the singer’s first television role, but did mark the first time he didn’t portray himself.
In September of 2024, Jelly Roll appeared as himself in an episode of Taylor Sheridan’s Tulsa King. But in Friday’s episode of Fire Country, the 40-year-old portrayed Noah, a “healthcare worker and convict who is in the process of turning his life around.”
In a video clip released prior to the episode titled “Fire and Ice,” Jelly Roll said that the role had a deeply personal meaning to him and that he “found” himself in the character.
“First day ever acting, I like it a lot,” Jelly Roll said of his acting debut in a video posted to social media. “I’m playing a guy who’s a second chance man, who’s been in and out of prison but lost his mother due to dementia. So my form of rehabilitation for myself and to give back as a man of service was I came to work at the local nursing home.”
The “Save Me” actor added, “I really found myself in this guy. When I came home from my last time being incarcerated, where I was so determined to change who I was as a human. If music didn’t work, I have a feeling that I wouldn’t have been far-fetched from being Noah working somewhere at some place, just trying to help people.
A bathroom conversation led to Jelly Roll being cast in Fire Country.
Max Thieriot, Fire Country actor and co-creator, told Us Weekly that a chance encounter with Jelly Roll at the CMT Music Awards led to the singer’s guest appearance on the show.
“He was finishing drying his hands with a towel in the bathroom at the CMTs. I ran into him in the bathroom straight up at the CMT Music Awards,” Thieriot told the outlet. He recalled thanking Jelly Roll for allowing the show to use some of his songs. “And he’s like, ‘Dude, how do I get on the show? I’ve been petitioning online and talking to my people, and you got to get me on that show.’”
The two were on a phone call the next day. Thieriot and his team created a character specifically with Jelly Roll in mind.
“We worked on coming up with a character that we all thought would be interesting, unique and special and still. It tells some of the story about second chances and what he really represents,” Thieriot shared. “But also feels different from who he is and how people see him day to day as a country singer.”
Fans raved about Jelly Roll’s debut.
Following Friday night’s episode of Fire Country, fans took to social media to praise the star for his impressive acting chops.
“Jelly Roll was a natural in this role,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Jellyroll [sic] did some preaching tonight on Fire Country. Its the Jellyroll takeover….Idol, Fire Country and song…this man can communicate!!!”
Jelly Roll released a new song to coincide with his acting debut.
Hours before his episode of Fire Country aired, Jelly Roll released a new single titled “Dreams Don’t Die.” The song played during the episode as Cal Fire helped survivors of a ski resort accident following a chair lift malfunction.
Jelly Roll is one of many country artists who have had their songs featured on the hit CBS series. Shania Twain, Chris Stapleton, Elle King, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jackson Dean, and many more have had songs appear on the show’s soundtrack.
Hear Jelly Roll’s new single, “Dreams Don’t Die,” in the lyric video below.