Even country’s most down-to-earth superstar has his breaking point.
Jelly Roll is back home in Tennessee after an emotional spiral during his first-ever tour of Australia and New Zealand, and he is not sugarcoating how rough it really got. Known for his honesty and raw emotion, the “Need a Favor” singer opened up on the No Filter podcast with host Kate Langbroek, revealing just how much the isolation of touring overseas wore him down.
In the middle of their conversation, Langbroek asked how he was holding up mentally while traveling. Jelly Roll did not hold back. “Oh, it’s a bad week to ask me,” he said. “I’m falling apart. It’s a horrible week. Yeah, I’m doing the worst mentally I’ve done in a long time.”
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The root of the struggle was being alone. Without tour buses in Australia, the shows left him holed up in hotel rooms far from the support system he depends on. “I don’t like spending a lot of time in my hotel room by myself,” he shared. “I’m in my head. I’m not having fun. I want to go home.”
This was not just about homesickness. It was a real mental health moment for the country star, one that ended with him canceling a highly anticipated show in Auckland, New Zealand, at the very last minute. Fans were already showing up to the venue when Jelly Roll made the announcement, and you could tell it hurt him to make the call.
“Dear Auckland,” he wrote on Instagram, “I’ve done everything I can. I just can’t shake it. It breaks my heart. I’ve probably missed three shows in the last decade. I pride myself on showing up no matter what. Just couldn’t do it this time. Please forgive me.”
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The forty-year-old has never been one to hide his struggles. He has been upfront about his past with substance abuse, incarceration, and mental health, and that same vulnerability continues to be the backbone of his connection with fans. That authenticity was on full display again, both in his tearful Instagram message and on the podcast, where he even found time to add a little humor.
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Because it would not be a Jelly Roll story without a little TMI and a few laughs, right? At one point during the interview, he joked about the digestive struggles that come with international flights. “You spend the whole day thinking you’re fixing to crap yourself,” he laughed, “and really you’re just waiting for your body to relax enough to fart.” Sometimes, that is just what tour life looks like when the lights go down.
Still, jokes aside, the past few weeks have clearly taken a toll. As 2025 wraps up, Jelly Roll has just a couple of performances left, including one in Mexico City. He is expected to slow things down after that, hopefully giving himself the time and space to heal and reconnect with his family.
Through all of it, Jelly Roll continues to show why fans love him. He is honest when he is hurting, unafraid to admit when things get heavy, and never shy about the gritty parts of fame that people do not always see. He may have reached the top of the charts, but it is that emotional realness that has kept him grounded and made him a voice for those who feel like they are still fighting their way out.
Even in the darkness, Jelly Roll keeps it real. And sometimes, that is the most powerful thing a star can do.
