John Rich believes Jelly Roll knew the potential consequences that would come with getting candid about politics, including the possibility that some of his own fans might stop listening.
The Big & Rich singer discussed Jelly Roll’s recent guest-hosting stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live! during an episode of The Benny Show, arguing that the country star likely knew the repercussions of his comments. Furthermore, Rich said that what the country singer said could clash with the assumptions some listeners had made about him.
“He knows how this works,” Rich stated. “He knows who the audience is.”
As previously reported by Billboard, Jelly Roll served as a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week. He addressed the reaction to jokes he made about President Donald Trump and the public speculation surrounding his political beliefs. The “Need a Favor” singer said that while he leans left on certain issues, he considers himself “pretty down the middle” politically.
For Rich, the fact that Jelly Roll spoke openly despite the potential backlash was evidence that the singer meant what he said.
“When you make statements that are that hardcore and, to a large extent, counteractive to the presentation you’ve been making, you do understand in country music that half or more of your audience may disown you,” Rich said, adding that some listeners could “stop listening” altogether.
Rich pointed to authenticity as a trait of country music, invoking artists including Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton as performers whose perspectives became part of their identities. He also connected Jelly Roll’s decision to his own experiences speaking publicly about politics, which Rich said had resulted in professional consequences for him.
Still, Rich said Jelly Roll’s situation was distinct because some fans may have been caught off guard by what the singer had to say.
“Jelly Roll knew the same thing concerning his audience,” Rich said. “Yet, he did it anyway. So to me, what that says is this guy is really who he says he is.”
Jelly Roll himself pushed back against the idea that his stint behind Kimmel’s desk should define him politically. “Hosting Jimmy Kimmel’s show doesn’t mean I have all of Jimmy Kimmel’s politics,” he said during his final night as guest host, later emphasizing his Christian faith, country background and life as a farmer and bow hunter.
He also spoke about the irony of how quickly public perceptions had changed. “Before this week everybody thought I was MAGA,” Jelly Roll said. “And now they think I’m some sort of liberal snowflake.”
Rich suggested that the backlash may have less to do with Jelly Roll expressing a specific set of beliefs than the disconnect between those beliefs and what some listeners thought they already knew about him.
“He should have been talking that way from the very beginning,” Rich said. “and he probably wouldn’t have this problem.”
Watch the full interview with John Rich below.