Inside Jelly Roll And Kelsea Ballerini's Relationship Before Their Awkward Moment At The CMT Awards

Publish date: 2024-06-11

Highlights

Since Kelsea Ballerini and Jelly Roll are two of the biggest names in the country music world, it's no wonder they were both the talk of the 2024 CMT Music Awards. They have the perfect combination of raw talent and fun-loving personalities. Fans loved Ballerini's unique SNL performance and can't stop listening to Jelly Roll's most beloved songs.

When the singers presented together at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, something went wrong, which resulted in an awkward but ultimately funny moment. This led fans to wonder about the connection between the stars. In this article, we'll take a look at the relationship between Kelsea Ballerini and Jelly Roll, along with what went wrong when they presented an award.

Did Kelsea Ballerini And Jelly Roll Get Along Before Presenting At The 2024 CMT Music Awards?

Before Kelsea Ballerini and Jelly Roll presented at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, the two singers were friends. In an interview with Billboard, Jelly Roll talked about the awards that he won and said that he loved going up against Ballerini and Cody Johnson for Video Of The Year.

He said:

“The coolest part is, Kelsea’s my friend. Cody’s my friend. And I don’t mean in the way we say friends in the industry – because we’re all ‘friends’ here, right? – but in a real way, of like, I’ve spent real time with them. I’ve spent hours on the phone with Cody, multiple dinners, hung out with him multiple times."

He said that he hangs out a lot with Ballerini and her boyfriend Chase Stokes, who she seemed to begin dating in 2023.

He explained:

"I’ve spent real time with Kelsea and Chase. These are my friends. So it’s cool.”

Related
What We Know About Jelly Roll's Baby Mamas And How They Co-Parent Amid Fame
Jelly Roll has two baby mamas and he and Bunnie Xo have very different relationships with them.

Since Kelsea Ballerini and Jelly Roll got along so well before they learned that they would present together at the 2024 CMT Awards, that must have made their time onstage a lot more fun.

What 2024 CMT Music Awards Did Jelly Roll Win?

According to The Tennessean, when Jelly Roll won Video Of The Year, he mentioned Ballerini in his speech, which once again proves that they are genuinely friends. He said:

"Kelsea Ballerini, you go baby!"

Related
The Relatable Meaning Behind One Of Jelly Roll's Most Popular Songs
Jelly Roll's song "Son of a Sinner" has some incredibly profound lyrics that go much deeper than most people realize.

Jelly Roll called Ballerini a friend again when Entertainment Tonight interviewed him about the plane ride he experienced right before the award ceremony. His plane had problems and couldn't make it to its destination, but thankfully everything was fine. When asked if he wanted to win all three awards he was nominated for, Jelly Roll said he hoped that Ballerini would take home a prize too. He said:

"You know what I was thinking about today? I was like, 'Wouldn't it be cool if Kelsea [Ballerini] could win one, Cody [Johnson] could win one, and I could win one?' Because it seems to be what it boils down to for the final category, so I'm like, 'They're my friends, man.'"

While Kelsea Ballerini doesn't seem to have called Jelly Roll a friend in any interviews, the two seem to have a playful and light-hearted friendship. They aren't afraid to tease each other or joke around. According to People, Ballerini mentioned Jelly Roll during her opening monologue and called him the wrong real name on purpose. While his name is Jason DeFord, she said, "Now we all know, Mr. Angelo Rollingsworth."

She also proved that they have a great relationship when they hugged during the CMT Music Awards. She said:

“Part of being a host is I get to give good news and bad news. So, I do have some bad news for the celebrities in the audiences: There are no gift bags tonight, I know, I know. But, we do have something way better that I can give out right now. Ready? A hug from Jelly Roll, come here, baby! Best hug ever! It’s an award in itself.”

What Happened Between Kelsea Ballerini And Jelly Roll At The CMT Music Awards?

When Kelsea Ballerini and Jelly Roll presented together at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, things got awkward fast. According to OK! Magazine, the prompter malfunctioned and Ballerini said:

"We're off prompter — help..."

Which CMT Music Awards Did Kelsea Ballerini Host?

Related
Kelsea Ballerini Dropped Some Bombshells About Her Divorce And Relationship With Morgan Evans
Kelsea Ballerini's divorce from Morgan Evans ended up being highly publicized, but she shared her side of things for the first time.

While some stars might be embarrassed if this happened to them, or at least frustrated, the stars took it in stride and kept their cool. According to OK! Magazine, fans loved this moment and one wrote on social media, "@JellyRoll615 being lost is so real! That guy is a whole mood."

The Best Performances Or Speeches From The CMT Music Awards (According to SheKnows)

2003: June Carter Cash got the Visionary Award for late husband Johnny Cash

2006: Keith Urban sang "Better Life" for Hurricane Katrina victims

2013: Taylor Swift sang "Red," proving she was becoming a pop singer

2019: Tanya Tucker sang "Delta Dawn" with Martina McBride, Brandi Carlile, Trisha Yearwood, and others

2019: Zac Brown told aspiring musicians to stay true to themselves tell all the haters to f— off" when the Zac Brown Band won an award for "Someone I Used To Know"

2021: Chris Stapleton and H.E.R. sang "Hold On"

2022: Naomi Judd and Wynonna Judd sang "Love Can Build A Bridge" two weeks before Naomi died

2023: Shania Twain said music needs to be "all-inclusive"

Kelsea Ballerini and Jelly Roll's good relationship seemed evident during this moment, too. They hugged while presenting and kept smiling throughout the whole situation, even though it must have felt awkward.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErZ%2Bippeoe6S7zGihnqScrnqzu8ulZKSdnKiyonnBmqOlnaKeu6q%2FjKucpZmknryvv8eip2abnal6osPAq5usZw%3D%3D