Cue the tears, because Jelly Roll just made all of his fans and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s fans cry.
âIâve been waiting a decade for this hug, baby!” the country singer exclaimed after The Rock wrapped his arms around him. But what made it more emotional was that itâs not just a hug; itâs the end of a ten-year emotional build-up.
One that includes mental health battles, heartfelt DMs, and a postcard from a forgotten corner of Nashville. After years of digital encouragement and long-awaited hellos, the pair finally met last week on the “American Idol” set, and fans everywhere felt the love.
The Song That Saved The Rock
You may know Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, as the chart-topping, tattooed crooner behind hits like âNeed a Favorâ and âSon of a Sinner.â But, to Johnson, heâs also the voice that pulled him through the darkness.
“Several years agoâroughly 2017âI was going through a very hard thing at the time,â Johnson wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. âI was struggling. My mental wellness turned into my mental hellness⦠Then a song came on through my headphones one morning on a random shuffle playlist. âOnlyâ from Jelly Roll. The lyrics rocked me. Hard core.â
The track, which has haunting lyrics about mental health and struggles, struck something deep in Johnson. He didn’t wait; rather, he messaged Jelly directly.
“I said, ‘You donât know me and I donât know you, but this song of yours is helping me through some stuff Iâm dealing with.’ I just called to say thank you brother. Our bond was born,” the actor continued.
That moment of vulnerability sparked a years-long friendship, despite the two never having met in person.
Brothers from the Same Grit
What makes this friendship special is that itâs rooted in more than just fanfare. Both Johnson and Jelly Roll know what it means to struggle throughout their lives, especially at a young age.
Jelly Roll spent his youth bouncing between incarceration and recovery before he successfully turned his pain into platinum records. Johnson, on the other hand, has been open about his teenage years, including being evicted from his home in Hawaii.
âWhen I was 15 years [old], I was forced to leave Hawaii⦠That didnât work out so I wound up living with a stranger in this little spot on Murfreesboro Road,â Johnson recalled. That now-demolished motel became the centerpiece of his gift to Jelly Roll. Yes, a vintage postcard from that very spot with a handwritten note that read, âKeep doinâ it brother. Proud of you.â
The two men didnât just swap hugs; they swapped stories of grit, redemption, and healing. Several celebrities and fans responded to the Rockâs Instagram, with even Jelly Rollâs wife, Bunnie XO, commenting, âBrothers from other mudders ð¤ So happy this finally happened!â
âLove this. Pure mutual respect for greatness,â another stated.Â
Despite being one of the biggest stars on the planet, Johnson made it clear heâs the fan in this friendship. But the admiration goes both ways. When Johnson made his way to meet Jelly on the âAmerican Idolâ set, where Jelly served as the showâs first-ever artist in residence, it felt more like a family reunion than a celebrity drop-in.
Music, Mental Health & Mutual Respect
Beyond fame, the two men share a core belief in music as medicine. Johnson said it best: âEvery once in a while we all get sliced up by life, but itâs amazing to see what kind of blessings and people that God and the universe will put in our lives to help us heal through our pain.â
And in case you missed it, both men are Billboard artists. The Rock landed on the Hot 100 in 2016 with âYouâre Welcomeâ from Moana, while Jelly just hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with âBeautifully Broken.â
“Love you brother and cheers to all our plaques coming down,” Johnson toasted at the end of his post. If that doesnât make you believe in destiny, we donât know what will.
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