Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The country singer told his wife Bunnie Xo on her Dumb Blonde podcast, “I don’t get involved in politics!”
Jelly Roll addressed criticism regarding his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.
During a Dec. 16 episode of his wife Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast, the “Halfway to Hell” singer discussed his encounter with Trump, who was 78 at the time, during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 16.
“Dude, there’s no way I’m passing up the chance to meet the president-elect. I don’t care,” Jelly, 40, said, expressing his enthusiasm for meeting any president.
He also shared, “If I got a call to meet Joe Biden, I would have gone at any time to meet him. That’s the sitting president. I don’t care about what either of us thinks about policies.”
“I don’t hide behind the ‘I’m not political’ excuse. I’m not political!” he continued. “Those who really know me understand that I’m one of the old-school guys. I like discussing topics I’m passionate about, and for that, I like to learn more about them. I don’t know enough about politics to pretend I understand what’s going on or what anyone stands for policy-wise.”
The “Son of a Sinner” singer explained that he wasn’t raised in a “voting culture” where his parents “pushed” him to vote. “They did, however, encourage respecting the president,” he added, noting that he believes the role is “the hardest job in the world.”
“Meeting President Trump was cool. In the end, I don’t really care about any backlash I get from it,” Jelly concluded. “The truth is, it was really cool to meet the president.”
Bunnie, 44, agreed, saying, “Anyone who gets the chance to meet a president, a vice president… anything like that, it’s a f—ing honor.”
Jelly also shared how “honored” he felt to spend time with senators in January who discussed his testimony on the fentanyl crisis. “I didn’t know which side any of them were on… I’m trying to bring people together here,” he said. “I’m going to work with whatever administration is in power for the rest of my life because my cause will always remain the same.”
The singer had testified before Congress, advocating for a bill to combat the supply and distribution of fentanyl across the country.
Having spent 10 years in and out of prison for charges ranging from aggravated robbery to cocaine possession with intent to sell, Jelly reflected on his past in a November PEOPLE cover story. The Grammy-nominated artist explained that while he has made peace with his past, he is still healing.
“I’m rounding third on my amends list, and I think when I get there, I’ll feel a little better,” he shared. “I was hitting stone walls with people who wouldn’t forgive me, and I thought, ‘Maybe this has something to do with the fact that I haven’t forgiven myself either.’” He continued, “I brush over 10, 12, 15 years of living an extremely crazy, narcissistic, selfish lifestyle in a two-second sentence in an interview. The truth is, there was a lot of pain in there. I hurt a lot of people. No matter how much I’ve changed, they still watch and are mad that I’m successful. I understand that. But I’m doing better at letting go of the past and realizing I don’t owe that part of me anything.”
