Jelly Roll will become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry.

The Beautifully Broken star received an unforgettable surprise from fellow Tennessee-born country artist Craig Morgan. Morgan recorded a video for Jelly Roll, which podcaster Joe Rogan revealed to him on The Joe Rogan Experience on Wednesday (December 10).

The “That's What I Love About Sunday” singer, who was inducted into the historic organization in 2008, said he’ll never forget “how much it meant to me to hear you say my music helped you get through some really tough times,” in his pre-recorded message to Jelly Roll. “And who would have ever dreamed back then that I’d be back at the Opry House today to say Jelly Roll, you’re officially invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It’s an honor to say welcome to the family, brother.”

Jelly Roll immediately buried his face in his hands, and tearfully asked Rogan, “can I have a hug?” The two of them embraced in honor of the 2026 Grammy nominee’s Opry invitation.

The “Need A Favor” superstar explained “it don’t get no bigger in country music,” than an invitation to become a member of the Opry, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. “That’s as big as it gets.” He also explained on the podcast (and on the Opry stage, in a clip Rogan played) that Morgan’s 2002 song, “Almost Home,” helped to lift him up while he was incarcerated. Jelly Roll remembered crying while he watched Morgan perform that song at the Opry, and “I just remember thinking, 'Man, I wanna make people feel the way he makes me feel.’”

“I don’t even know what to say right now y’all,” Jelly Roll wrote in a caption on Instagram as he shared a clip of his full circle surprise on Wednesday. “They invited me to be a member of the Opry. CRAIG MORGAN INVITED ME TO BE A MEMBER OF THE OPRY!!!! I’m honored beyond words and I can’t stop pinching myself. To everyone at the Opry, y’all are like family to me. To Craig Morgan, no matter how many times I say it i’ll never be able to tell you enough how much this has all meant to me. I love you Joe Rogan.”

Jelly Roll will join Morgan (who recently caught up with Jelly Roll’s wife, Bunnie Xo, on an episode of Dumb Blonde), Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Lainey Wilson, Trisha Yearwood and others as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. See the list of Opry members here.

Jelly Roll, one of iHeartRadio’s most-played country artists in 2025, is part of the star-studded lineup of the 2025 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour presented by Capital One. The tour includes stops in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and more, with Alex Warren, BigXthaPlug, Conan Gray, Ed Sheeran, Jessie Murph, Laufey, mgk, MONSTA X, Myles Smith, Nelly, Olivia Dean, Ravyn Lenae, Reneé Rapp, Shinedown, The Kid LAROI, Zara Larsson and other artists taking the stage. To relive the holiday magic, iHeartRadio is teaming up with ABC to bring the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour to fans across the country in an exclusive network special, slated to air in December. It will also be available the next day on Hulu. More info, including tickets, can be found at iHeartRadio.com/JingleBall.

Bob Pickett

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