“He's an Inspiration”: Jon Bon Jovi Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Jelly Roll and His Wife, Bunnie XO

Real recognise real.

During an insightful new conversation as part of Joel Madden's Artist Friendly podcast, rock titan Jon Bon Jovi has shared his deep-seated admiration for Jelly Roll.

The duo teamed up earlier this year for the reimagined version of Bon Jovi's ‘Living Proof’, one of the many star-studded duets from his Forever (Legendary Edition) project.

When asked by Madden about Jelly, Bon Jovi began by tipping his cap to his friend's weight loss journey, “Oh my God, I can't say enough about him. He's an inspiration. You know, I mean, what he's done physically is one thing and that's okay, wonderful, God bless him for fit”, before toasting both Jelly and his wife, Bunnie XO, “But the inside of that man, and the life he's lived and the example he's being for that audience - and his wife is the same way. I can't say enough good about him”.

Bon Jovi undoubtedly speaks the truth, with Jelly having established himself over the past few years as not only a chart-topping country star, but also a public figure who consistently encourages and works to help those facing similar struggles.

Jelly spent much of his teens and early adulthood in and out of the criminal justice system until he was 25, with the ‘Need a Favor’ hitmaker raising $590,000 for at-risk youth over the course of his blockbuster 2023 Backroad Baptism Tour.

What's more, the ‘Son of a Sinner’ singer-songwriter continues to lace his music with a message of redemption and forgiveness, with Jelly's live shows often feeling more like a moving, heartfelt group therapy session than a country music concert.

Similarly, as Bon Jovi outlines in his tribute, Bunnie XO is another beacon of light for many, fostering inspiring and empathetic conversations via her Dumb Blonde Podcast.

Elsewhere during his interview with Madden, the ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ icon champions Jelly's authenticity, “He was late getting to the starting gate, really, but when he got there, all that life experience came with him, so he had something to say. You know, and then really early on I realised how smart he was and how worldly he was. Not just the troubled side, but the music business side. And then his voice, he felt the emotion, he knew what he was going to sing about”.

Given the lovely, genre-blurring connection that has been sparked between Bon Jovi and Jelly, we're hoping ‘Living Proof’ isn't the last time we get to hear them sing together...

Watch the full clip below:

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