Jon Bon Jovi And Jelly Roll’s Unlikely Friendship
Rock icon Jon Bon Jovi and rapper-turned-country star Jelly Roll teamed up earlier this year to release a reimagined version of Bon Jovi’s 2024 song, “Living Proof.” According to Good Morning America, the pair developed a friendship after meeting in 2024 at the MusiCares Person of the Year Gala, where Jelly Roll performed in honor of the rockstar.
The rock anthem is a perfect parallel to Jelly Roll’s music, much of which is laden with themes of forgiveness and redemption.
Later, after their collaborative track was released, the Bon Jovi frontman surprised Jelly and his wife, Bunnie Xo, with a token of his appreciation. During a visit to their Tennessee property, Jon and his wife, Dorothea Hurley, gifted their hosts a few items, including a vintage prototype Bon Jovi cut-off tee.
The sweet moment was captured on video. Watch it below!
Jon Bon Jovi Praises Jelly Roll And Bunnie Xo
During a new conversation on Joel Madden’s Artist Friendly podcast, Jon Bon Jovi admitted that he “can’t say enough” about his friend Jelly Roll.
“He’s an inspiration. You know, I mean, what he’s done physically is one thing and that’s okay, wonderful, God bless him for it.”
Over the last two years, the “Son of a Sinner” singer has transformed his physical health and has lost roughly 250 lbs as of his last update. True to his nature, he has remained transparent with his followers about the journey in hopes of inspiring others who face similar struggles.
RELATED: SEE JELLY ROLL’S WEIGHT LOSS TRANSFORMATION IN PHOTOS
Jon says it is what on the inside, however, that sets Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo apart. He adds:
“He was late getting to the starting gate, really, but when he got there, all that life experience came with him, so he had something to say. You know, and then really early on I realised how smart he was and how worldly he was. Not just the troubled side, but the music business side. And then his voice, he felt the emotion, he knew what he was going to sing about.”
Jelly Roll has openely shared the struggles of his youth, which included drug-related afflictions and run-ins with the law. He turned his life around in his mid-20s after the birth of his daughter, and remains committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Recently, he revealed his dreams of opening a free rehabilitation facility on his land.
Hear Jon Bon Jovi talk about Jelly Roll in the clip below! The full interview can be found here.