Fans of Jelly Roll got not one but two big surprises at the CMA Fest

Despite telling fans at a performance before the Fest that he wouldn’t play Nashville again until 2027, the singer made two unannounced appearances at the Fest.

The first surprise came on night two of the world’s largest country music festival. Jelly sang an unexpected duet of “Amen” with Shaboozey.

After performing their duet of “Amen,” Jelly Roll screamed, “Shaboozey, welcome to my city of Nashville, Tennessee. It’s the most magical place on Earth!”

Jelly Roll Joins Brandon Lake and Takes ‘Nashville to Church’

Jelly Roll also joined Christian artist Brandon Lake on “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

In an Instagram post by the Country Music Association, a video shows Jelly in the audience turning to the camera and saying, “Look at Brandon taking Nissan Stadium to church right now.” The video then cuts to Jelly on stage with Brandon singing the song together.

The pair were backed by a gospel choir.

Jelly Roll Told Fans He Wouldn’t Perform Again in Nashville ’til 2027

The two surprise performances come just days after Jelly Roll performed at the second night of the inaugural Music City Rodeo at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. And while on stage, he told fans he wouldn’t perform again in his hometown of Nashville again until 2027.

Jelly Roll paused his set and told the crowd, “I shouldn’t say this, I’m gonna get in trouble. But I gotta say it out loud. Somebody film this for me. This will be my last Nashville show until 2027, y’all. Hear me out, though. This is why, because I need y’all’s help. I want to be the first act to play Nissan Stadium, when it opens in the spring of 2027.”

Jelly Roll Explains His Passion for Nissan Stadium

When it’s completed in 2027, the New Nissan Stadium will be home to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, replacing their current venue, also called Nissan Stadium, which opened in 1999.

The old stadium hosted all the big name acts for CMA Fest, including Jelly’s performance with Shaboozey.

For Jelly Roll, being the first act to perform in the new venue would be a dream come true.

Jelly Roll told his rodeo audience at Bridgestone Arena, “I never thought I would make it here, I never thought I would sell out Bridgestone three times.”

Jelly got emotional as he went on, shouting, “In 2027, Nissan Stadium, please let the local boy live a dream and open up the new stadium, let me be the first to play it, baby! Let the local boy do it, baby! I’ve been a… life-long Titans fan. Let me play Nissan Stadium, y’all!” as the crowd cheered.

“Woo! Sorry, that was crazy, but I gotta speak it into existence. I believe in Nashville,” he continued. “If all of y’all brought a friend, we could do it. If you brought a friend, we could do it!”