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By Alli Patton
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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame hosted its annual induction ceremony, welcoming a new class of artists into the hallowed institution this past Saturday (Oct. 19). There to celebrate one inductee, in particular, was country sensation Jelly Roll.
The 'Save Me' singer was present to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the '70s metal trailblazer, Black Sabbath frontman and all-around Prince of Darkness.
Several acts, like fellow British rocker Billy Idol, Tool's Maynard Keenan, guitarist and frequent Ozzy collaborator Zakk Wylde and more, led the tribute, serenading the honoree with a handful of his career-spanning solo hits.
However, no one gave a more whole-hearted – albeit head-scratching, and in the end, controversial – performance than Jelly Roll.
The country star took the stage for a showcase of Osbourne's 1991 classic, 'Mama, I'm Coming Home'. Giving the song a dose of his trademark gruff and emotionally weighty vocals, Jelly Roll gave a soulful rendition of an already impassioned song. However, it was a performance that some fans found less than worthy.
A video of the display was teased across social media, with the comments section becoming target practice as many took aim at the Beautifully Broken artist.
"Jelly Roll - Wanted: for the murder of this song," one user wrote, with others declaring the performance "woefully bad" and "absolutely hideous." Many were outright confused at the decision to included the artist in the tribute altogether.
Performance aside, Osbourne was inducted in good company, with Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang and A Tribe Called Quest now rightfully placed among fellow rock legends.
They, themselves, were honored by the likes of Demi Lovato, Dr. Dre, Dua Lipa, James Taylor, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Slash and several others during the star-studded night.
Holler's Take:
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has been known for its peculiar decisions when it comes to inductees and those snubbed, so it's no surprise the institution would choose an equally confounding performer to honor one of its conscripts.
And yes, to many, Jelly Roll seemed like the most left-field decision when it came to honoring Ozzy Osbourne. Except, maybe, to Ozzy Osbourne.
“Who doesn’t love Jelly Roll?” the longtime rocker told Rolling Stone ahead of the ceremony. “His voice is soulful, pure, and dirty. I’m so honored that someone would do this for me who I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting.”
Jelly Roll is certainly "soulful, pure, and dirty" to a tee, his voice boasting that hallmark grit and his songs rife with a similar tenacity as he often tackles themes of addiction, loss and overcoming.
While the country star was an off-the-wall choice and his performance ended up falling flat, he had all the tools to give an honest and moving take on 'Mama, I'm Coming Home'. Plus if Prince of Darkness approved, I guess we all must abide.
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For more on Jelly Roll, see below: