The Grammy-nominated star bagged his first-ever Billboard Music Award at the ceremony on December 12, 2024.
Jelly Roll represented the country music genre with his two dynamic performances at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. However, many viewers argued his music leans more toward rock, urging others to stop labeling him as a country music star.

A fan comments on Jelly Roll representing the country music genre at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, from a post dated December 12, 2024 | Source: Facebook/cmt
Jelly Roll, whose latest album “Beautifully Broken” continues to resonate deeply with fans, took the stage to deliver heartfelt performances of his tracks “Liar” and “I Am Not Okay.”
Fans erupted in cheers as the singer stepped onto the stage, their energy palpable. The atmosphere turned emotional as the crowd stood, swaying in unison, and sang along to his touching performance of “I Am Not Okay.”
In contrast, before performing “Liar,” Jelly Roll addressed the audience with heartfelt words. “I see people crying, and I see strangers wrapping their arms around them and spreading the love all throughout the building. I can feel the pain, and I can feel the healing happening,” he assured the crowd.

Jelly Roll performs at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, on December 12, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
The singer then addressed the crowd with a triumphant declaration, proclaiming that the “devil is a liar,” before launching into a powerful performance of his song “Liar.”
While Jelly Roll’s songs and performances were undeniably powerful and well-received, some viewers took issue with categorizing his music under the country genre and labeling him as a country star.
One fan bluntly remarked, “NOT COUNTRY.” Another expanded on the sentiment, “While it’s good music there isn’t anything ‘country’ stepping into anything. This is just music. Your [sic] not ‘country’ just because you wear boots. I love these artists but let’s stop calling them country.”