Jelly Roll Tells His Wife Bunnie Xo ‘I Would Have Killed Myself If It Wasn’t for You’ as He Tearfully Accepts Grammy

Jelly Roll delivered an emotional and deeply personal speech while accepting the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken.

The singer teared up as he took the stage Sunday, Feb. 1, crediting his wife, Bunnie Xo, with saving his life during his darkest moments.

“They’re going to try to kick me off here, so just let me try to get this out,” Jelly Roll said through tears. “First of all, Jesus, I hear you, and I’m listening. Lord, I am listening. Lord. Second of all, I want to thank my beautiful wife. I would have never changed my life without you. I would have ended up dead or in jail. I would have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus. I thank you for that.”

The award marked a major milestone for Jelly Roll, whose music often reflects his troubled past and path to recovery. During his acceptance speech, he spoke candidly about the experiences that inspired the album.

“There was a time in my life, y’all, that I was broken. That’s why I wrote this album. I didn’t think I had a chance, y’all,” he said. “There was days that I thought the darkest things. I was a horrible human.”

He went on to recall a period of incarceration that became a turning point in his life.

There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big, and a radio the same size, and a six-by-eight-foot cell,” he said. “And I believe that those two things could change my life. I believe that music had the power to change my life, and God had the power to change my life. And I want to tell y’all right now Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label. Jesus is Jesus and anybody can have a relationship with Him. I love you, Lord.”

Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo’s relationship dates back years before his mainstream success. In 2016, he proposed to her onstage in Las Vegas, and the couple later revealed they secretly tied the knot that same night in a courthouse ceremony.

This year, the Grammys introduced two new categories: Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Album; the previously titled Best Country Album category was changed to Best Contemporary Country Album.

The Grammys are broadcasting live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS or stream them live and on-demand on Paramount+.