Jelly Roll Reveals The One Rule He Stuck To When Creating His Backroad Baptism Tour Setlist

While in town for CMA Fest 2023, Jelly Roll recorded an episode of the Amazon Country Heat Weekly Podcast in Nashville, during which he shared some details on his upcoming Backroad Baptism tour.

As well as speaking about his hugely popular 2023 Hulu documentary and the process behind his recently released Whitsitt Chapel album, Jelly Roll revealed how he's been choosing which songs to perform while out on the road this year on his US tour.

When asked how much of the new album has made its way into his 2023 setlist, the ‘Need A Favor’ singer-songwriter responded, “Oh yeah, we play a bunch...we have a rule, for every new song we play, we play an old song. So it's a good mixture. It's healthy”.

Jelly Roll then went on to tease that ticket-holders can expect to hear some surprising covers during his 2023 Backroad Baptism performances, “We cover some stuff you wouldn't expect us to cover. A Jelly Roll concert is a mix between a country show, a rock show, a little bit of a rap show, and a whole lot of a backroad Tent Revival”.

Elsewhere in the Amazon Country Heat Weekly discussion, Jelly Roll spoke about the gratitude he feels for having been able to work with so many established country acts on his new album, including Ashley McBryde, Miranda Lambert and more.

He underlined, “It just made me feel so good walking into the [writing] rooms. And I had so many people in this town that showed up for me on short notice to help me write this concept album. Miranda Lambert came out and wrote with me on this album, Ashley McBryde came out and wrote with me on this album, y'all. It was unreal. I mean, the list could go on and on. Brantley Gilbert, I mean, it's awesome, y'all. It was the coolest thing ever”.

In addition, the fast-emerging, genre-blending artist was asked about the transformative charity work he has become deeply involved in, which aims to help those affected by incarceration at a young age. Jelly Roll, who spent time in prison when he was just 14, emphasised why this means so much to him, “I feel like, what's gonna matter more than anything...when this is all said and done. The jokes are great, the story's emotional, but the only thing that really matters is the music and the philanthropy. Does the music help people? And are you a man of service and do you care enough about people to give back? That's what matters”.

Jelly Roll's 2023 Backroad Baptism tour begins on July 28 in Southaven, Mississippi, with support coming throughout his sprawling run of shows from Struggle Jennings, Ashley McBryde, Chase Rice, Yelawolf, Elle King, Merkules and Three 6 Mafia.

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