Jelly Roll is officially taking on a major role in American Idol! The country-rap sensation has been announced as the show’s brand-new Artist in Residence, marking a huge milestone in his skyrocketing career. This means fans will see more of Jelly Roll throughout the competition, as he mentors contestants, delivers special performances, and shares his journey of resilience and transformation.
His raw, heartfelt storytelling and ability to connect with audiences make him the perfect fit for inspiring the next generation of artists. After stealing the show as a guest mentor last season—where he brought contestants to tears with his encouragement—it’s no surprise that American Idol wanted even more Jelly Roll magic this time around. Are you excited to see what he brings to the table?
American Idol has yet another surprise up their sleeve. The longrunning talent competition series is set to feature their first ever artist in residence in the upcoming Season 23. The first ever artist in residence is non other than country star Jelly Roll.
Jelly Roll Announces as American Idol‘s First Ever Artist in Residence
On Tuesday, February 4, American Idol announced a brand new feature to their show, artist in residence. In a recently released press release, ABC announced that Jelly Roll will appear during Season 23’s Hollywood Week as “a permanent fixture this season and will work closely with the Idol hopefuls, giving them firsthand advice on how to navigate the journey.”
The country singer will appear in this season’s Hollywood week. This news comes after fans begged the network to include the country singer again. In case you may have missed it, the country singer appeared with former Idol Tori Kelly.
Jelly Roll wrote, “Honored to be Idol’s first-ever ARTIST IN RESIDENCE—mentoring with heart, soul, and real experience! ”
American Idol returns to ABC on March 9. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until the Hollywood Week portion of the competition to witness Jelly Roll’s brand new role.
Season 23 Also Features a New Judge
Also upcoming on this season of American Idol is a brand new judge. This season’s panel is set to feature longtime judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Next to them, for the first time ever, is none other than American Idol Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood.
Fans had been excited for Underwood’s time as a panelist, ahead of her performance at President Donald Trump’s January inauguration. Following the performance, there was reason to believe that the talent competition series has reason to worry about the show, given Underwood’s performance.
“Idol contestants come from a wide range of diverse backgrounds, and so do the people who work on the show,” a source told DailyMail. “There are concerns that her apparent political stance might make some contestants feel uncomfortable.”
According to the same report, the show is also reportedly concerned that the move could “create some tension” between Underwood and longtime Idol judge Lionel Richie, who has spoken out against Trump in the past.
