Luke Bryan labels Jelly Roll's lifestyle change 'saddest thing' at CMAs amid singer's 100lbs weight loss
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: The 2024 CMA Awards, held on November 20 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, kicked off with host Luke Bryan taking a playful jab at country singer Jelly Roll during the opening monologue.
Along with co-hosts Lainey Wilson and Peyton Manning, Bryan marked the 58th annual ceremony recognizing the best in country music.
Luke Bryan’s hilarious jab at Jelly Roll had the audience in stitches
While giving a shoutout to Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson praised his efforts to prioritize health over the past year, saying, “He sure is – Him and [his wife] Bunny both ... This is what I’ve heard: Jelly, he's spent the year exercising and eating healthy and drinking less."
Bryan, not missing a beat, chimed in with mock disbelief, “That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m so sorry.”
The audience, along with Jelly Roll himself, erupted in laughter, setting a warm, humorous tone for the evening.
Though lighthearted, the moment highlighted Jelly Roll’s impressive weight loss journey.
The singer has openly discussed his struggles and triumphs with weight loss and has impressed fans with his physical transformation.
The rapper Jason Bradley DeFord, popularly known as Jerry Roll, has reportedly lost around 100lbs on his Beautifully Broken tour which is set to run through late 2024.
Jelly Roll opens up about overcoming 'battle' with food addiction
Speaking with People magazine earlier this year, he reflected on the challenge of overcoming a lifelong struggle with food addiction growing up in Antioch, Tennessee.
“The battle was with the food addiction, changing the way I’ve looked at food for the last 39 years,” he said.
“I’ve never had a healthy relationship with food, so that was the hard part. But once you get into that discipline and commitment, it’s like an avalanche. Once that little snowball started rolling, it was on its way.”
“Nobody in my house ever had [a healthy relationship with food], so that was the hard part, really fighting that demon at first and getting into that discipline and that commitment,” he further added.
His wife, Bunny XO, has also shared insights into the toll of public scrutiny on Jelly Roll.
On her 'Dumb Blonde' podcast, she revealed the emotional impact of online criticism, stating, “My husband got off the Internet because he is so tired of being bullied about his f**king weight, and that makes me want to cry because he is the sweetest angel baby.”
With performances from stars like Post Malone, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, and Kelsea Ballerini, the night showcased the genre’s diverse talent.
Other notable performers included Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Noah Kahan, Megan Moroney, and Jelly Roll himself.
The evening also welcomed a star-studded lineup of presenters, including Simone Biles, Clint Black, Jeff Bridges, and Freddie Freeman, who handed out trophies to deserving artists.
