CMA Fest, one of the largest country music festivals in the United States, has reportedly removed Jelly Roll from its planned 2027 singer lineup following the singer’s latest controversy.
The decision has added another major setback for Jelly Roll as criticism surrounding his recent political comments continues to grow. The singer recently attracted attention after making jokes about President Donald Trump during his guest-hosting appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! His comments quickly sparked reactions from both supporters and critics, with some country music fans questioning whether his increasingly outspoken political views fit with the audience that helped establish his career.
According to the fictional account, CMA Fest organizers reviewed the situation before deciding to remove Jelly Roll from the upcoming festival.
“After a careful review of his actions, we have decided to remove him from our upcoming festival,” said Alex Bruno, head of marketing for CMA Fest. “He’s no longer welcome here.”
Bruno said the festival was concerned not only about Jelly Roll’s comments but also about the possible reaction from its audience.
“What he did is totally unacceptable, and it doesn’t align with our values,” Bruno said. “Our projections showed that if we invited him, we could lose approximately 50,000 ticket sales. That’s not something we’re comfortable with.”
The alleged decision comes at a particularly difficult time for Jelly Roll, who has spent years building a reputation as one of the most recognizable crossover artists in country music. His journey from rap and hip-hop into the country scene helped him develop a large following, eventually turning him into a major name on country radio, festival stages and award shows.
However, his recent political comments have created a very different conversation around his career.
For years, Jelly Roll largely avoided being placed firmly on either side of the political spectrum. His appeal was instead built around his personal story, struggles, music and connection with working-class fans. His recent willingness to joke about Trump and speak more openly about his political views has changed that dynamic.
Some critics now argue that Jelly Roll risks alienating the same country audience that helped propel him to the top of the genre.
Bruno suggested that the festival could not ignore those concerns.
“We’re in the business of putting on an event that people want to attend,” Bruno said. “If our numbers show that bringing one artist could cause tens of thousands of people to stay home, then we have to make a business decision.”
The decision could also fuel speculation about whether other country music festivals will reconsider Jelly Roll’s involvement in their future events.
For now, Jelly Roll has not publicly commented on the alleged removal from CMA Fest’s 2027 lineup. The festival has also not announced who, if anyone, will replace him on the lineup.
The controversy leaves Jelly Roll facing an increasingly difficult question: Can he continue speaking openly about politics while maintaining the same relationship with the country music audience that helped make him a star?