Grammy Awards 2026: Jelly Roll Sparks Social Media Firestorm After “Jesus-Filled” Acceptance Speech

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, have left the music world deeply divided, not just over the awards, but over the political and religious messages delivered from the stage. While the night was defined by a wave of artists wearing “ICE Out” pins and delivering anti-immigration enforcement speeches, country-rapper Jelly Roll took a drastically different path—one that has critics accusing him of “MAGA-coded” religious deflection.

The Speech That Ignited the Debate

After winning Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken (one of three Grammys he swept that night), Jelly Roll took the stage with a pocket-sized Bible in hand. His speech focused heavily on his history of incarceration and his personal redemption.

“There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big and a radio the same size and a 6-by-8 foot cell,” he told the audience. “And I believed that those two things could change my life… Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party; Jesus is not owned by any music label.”

While the crowd at the Crypto.com Arena responded with a mix of cheers and stunned silence, the reaction online was immediate and fierce.

“Silence is a Stance”: The ICE Controversy

The backlash against Jelly Roll stems largely from his silence on the political issue that dominated the ceremony: the conduct of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the tragic death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

While peers like Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, and Kehlani used their time to explicitly denounce ICE—with Bad Bunny opening his speech with “ICE out”—Jelly Roll’s decision to stick to a religious message was viewed by some as a calculated sidestep.

• Social Media Backlash: Critics on X (formerly Twitter) labeled his words “religious deflection” and “cowardly,” pointing to his upcoming performance at a “Rock the Country” festival as evidence of his political leanings.
• The “Dumb Redneck” Defense: When pressed by reporters backstage on why he didn’t join the chorus against ICE, Jelly Roll called himself a “dumb redneck” who has been “disconnected” from the news. However, he promised a “loud and clear” statement on social media in the coming week.

Fox News Weighs In: Watters vs. The Viewers

The controversy moved to cable news on Monday when Jesse Watters aired a clip of the speech on Jesse Watters Primetime. Watters claimed the audience response was “lackluster” and suggested the “liberal” Grammy crowd was uncomfortable with a public display of faith.

“You can say F— ICE, and the room goes wild. But if you praise Jesus, they start looking around,” Watters remarked.

However, viewers quickly took to social media to accuse Watters of “muddying the waters,” claiming the full broadcast showed a much more positive reaction than the edited clip suggested.

Key Highlights of Jelly Roll’s 2026 Grammys