Jelly Roll was hoping to bring his mom to the 2024 Grammy Awards on Sunday night (Feb. 4) — they even talked about getting her a new outfit for the occasion! — but ultimately, she didn’t make it to Los Angeles for the event.
Still, the singer’s mom, Donna DeFord, was tuning in from home, Jelly told ET on the red carpet before the show.
“She’s watching, dude,” he affirms.
“She wanted to come, but we just couldn’t find … I was worried, her having a wheelchair and getting in and out on the carpet and stuff,” Jelly explains. “But she’s watching from home, man. And she’s FaceTimed me 10 times today already. She’s fired up.”
At the reporter’s suggestion, right there on the spot, the country star whipped out his phone and made it 11: He called up his mom via video chat so he could still take part in all the red carpet excitement.
“I wished I could’ve been there too,” Donna says over the phone.
“She says, ‘She’s in Nashville holding it down,'” Jelly continues, repeating some of the less-audible things his mom was saying over FaceTime.
Sunday night’s show marked the first time that Jelly has been nominated for a Grammy or attended the awards show. He was up in two categories, including the all-genre Best New Artist category.
Though he didn’t win either trophy, Jelly said the event was still a huge career highlight: He even got to meet his celebrity “crush,” Taylor Swift.
19 Celebrities Jelly Roll Met at the 2024 Grammys
One thing is for sure when it comes to Jelly Roll: He’ll never miss an opportunity to meet celebs.
As a nominee for his first Grammy in 2024 — he was up for the all-genre Best New Artist — the country newcomer attended the ceremony and hob-knobbed with some pretty big names in the music industry. He met artists like Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson and even Taylor Swift!
Pictures show that Jelly Roll also met Paul McCartney, Sammy Hagar and Lenny Kravitz at the MusiCares Person of the Year ceremony leading up to the Grammys. The show was honoring Jon Bon Jovi, whom he also had the pleasure of meeting.
Here are 19 celebrities Jelly Roll rubbed elbows with during Grammys week.
2024 Grammy Awards Red Carpet — See Country Music’s Best Dressed
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes