If there’s one thing you can expect from a country music superstar, it’sjelly rollIt’s vulnerability. On and off stage, the 39-year-old is always ready to bare his soul, and he shows it again with his new album, “I Am Not OK.”
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The Nashville native took to social media today to share a new song that focuses on an issue very close to home: mental health struggles. Though he regularly battles periods of depression and anxiety himself, Jerry is taking action by inspiring hope and confidence to those battling similar struggles.
“To anyone going through something. It’s ok to not be ok,” he wrote on social media alongside the song’s announcement. “Everything will be ok!”
In a previous interview with Audacy Katie NeilJelly Roll says he was often told “don’t worry about it” when it came to his mental health issues as a child, which he believes directly contributed to his rebellious behavior and ultimately led to him ending up in prison. He hopes that by addressing mental health issues head on, he can help others avoid the difficult path he went down.
listen now: Jelly Roll details his struggles with mental health in emotional conversation with Katie Neal
“I felt like no one accepted me,” he said of why he thinks he misbehaved when he was younger. “When you feel like no one accepts you, there’s always that one group that does, and that’s always going to be an issue,” he continued. “I think if I’d been able to speak up enough to sit down and say, ‘Hey, I’m not accepted anywhere, and I want to take this path,’ I think I could have made some crazy decisions in life.”
Although Jerry has now rebuilt his life and regularly checks in with his mental health, he believes it’s important to let his fans know that no matter how successful he is, he still struggles like so many others.
“I really think this is something everyone needs to hear,” he told Audacy’s Katie Neal, detailing what it’s like to struggle with mental health. “I would wake up and for no reason, I didn’t want to get out of bed. [why]… I woke up and felt like there was a cloud hanging over my bed, like the blankets were too heavy for me to push off.”
The 39-year-old admits that moments like these are the hardest to get through, as they often lead to anxious thoughts that send you into a downward spiral: “Then the anxiety hits you. Unrealistic anxiety: ‘Is this a bad omen? Is something bad going to happen to someone around me and am I feeling like this is going to happen? Is something going to happen to me? And then next thing you know, you’re checking your blood pressure for no reason.”
For him, managing the low and anxious moments is an ongoing battle, but he has found some methods that help him manage it in a healthy way.
listen nowJelly Roll on how music helps with mental health
“I use music as therapy to help with my mental health,” he said, “and I don’t mean writing music, which is very therapeutic too. But even now, when I need to clear my thoughts, I’ll get in my old truck and hit the back roads with the radio turned up.”
In addition to immersing himself in music, the Tennessee native shared that he’s constantly staying mindful and practicing gratitude. “One of the main tools that I use for my mental health is to have a calm mind, to be grateful, to center myself on these things, and to always be willing to listen and learn,” he said.
Hear more from Jelly Roll’s conversation with Audacy’s Katie Neal above about his mental health, criminal history, and the moment that changed his life.
Audacy I am listening Initiative It aims to help people with mental health issues know they are not alone. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that there is always someone there for them. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 on 988.
