Why Jelly Roll Was Late to Grammys 2026 Red Carpet

All his life, Jelly Roll has been working towards this moment.

Arriving at the 2026 Grammy Awards felt like a dream come true for the musician. He was nominated for three awards – Best Contemporary Country Album, Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance – completing a significant journey for him.

Jelly Roll told Zuri Hall of TopMob News that he was delayed because he needed about half an hour to compose himself emotionally. He explained he hadn’t cried that deeply in a long time, but they were happy tears and a very relieving experience.

The 41-year-old artist had already received two awards – for Best Contemporary Christian Music and Best Country Duo/Group Performance – before he even walked the red carpet.

He exclaimed, marveling at God’s power, that to come from where he did and then win Grammys for songs like ‘Amen’ and ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’ was proof of divine intervention. He felt Jesus was clearly at work in his success.

For this special event, Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, wore a stylish black bomber jacket. (You can see photos of all the stars who attended here.)

It was so wonderful to see my husband reach this incredible milestone! And honestly, as his wife, I’d been anticipating this moment for a long time. I’m just incredibly proud of everything he’s accomplished.

She explained, “I truly believe there’s a woman supporting every successful man. We were actually discussing this on the drive over, and it feels like a really bizarre, unbelievable story. He claims he never realized it, but I knew it all along.”

Jelly’s wife, who has been with him for nearly a decade, shared, “I knew from the moment I met him that he was special – I actually told him that on our first night together, and I truly meant it.”

For her part, Bunnie—real name Alisa DeFord—stunned on the red carpet in her own red, lacy dress.

Beyond expressing his thanks, Jelly Roll also showcased his incredible weight loss – he’s lost over 200 pounds in the last few years.

I completely changed my diet, and it made a huge difference,” he shared with TopMob News at the premiere of Netflix’s Star Search on January 20th. “I was seriously unwell before. I’m not lecturing anyone, but I feel strongly about how flawed our food system is. As someone struggling with addiction, it was really difficult to break away from unhealthy eating, so I focused a lot on improving my diet.”

Jelly Roll, a father to 17-year-old Bailee Ann and 9-year-old Noah from previous relationships, credits his partner, Bunnie, and his children as his main source of inspiration and drive during his recent focus on health and wellness.

You know, I’ve really been on a journey of self-improvement lately, and it’s all driven by wanting to be the best husband and dad I can be. Things like getting in shape? That’s just one piece of it. It’s not a finish line, though. Each day I wake up knowing I need to keep growing and evolving to be even better for my family. It’s a constant effort, and honestly, it’s the most rewarding one I’ve ever undertaken.

I’ve been following Jelly Roll’s story for a while now, and it’s so inspiring. It all started with one small decision – he decided to go for a walk. He realized he wasn’t able to do things with his son, like playing football, because of his weight, and that really hit him hard. That first walk was the beginning of everything for him, and honestly, it’s been amazing to watch his progress.

He remembered telling his family on the December 10th episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that he was finished with dishonesty, both to them and to himself. He had previously told them he was planning a walk, and he assured them he would follow through.

He’s currently showing off his style on the Grammys red carpet! Keep reading for a complete look at all the celebrity outfits.