‘American Idol’ Fans Confused By Jelly Roll’s Job On Show, What Does He Do?
Fans of American Idol have been seeing Jelly Roll become a prominent part of the show, especially in its current season. However, some fans are still confused as to what his exact role on the show really is. Meanwhile, some fans suspect the show might actually have big plans for the rapper and singer.
Jelly Roll First Started Appearing On American Idol In Season 22
Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord, is a singer and rapper who rose to prominence in the 2020s. He is famous for the songs, “Need a Favor”, “Son of a Sinner,” and “Save Me.”
In recent years, American Idol fans have seen Jelly Roll become a growing part of the show. In Season 22, he appeared as a mentor and a guest judge for the semifinals. By the following season, he appeared as an “artist-in-residence.”
Through this, Jelly Roll has certainly made an impression on viewers. However, fans aren’t entirely sure on just what his role on the show actually is.
Taking to social media, one fan shared that, “Like I know he did those earlier mentor sessions but at this point they’re just showing him saying he’s the artist in residence, but we don’t even see him interacting with the contestants at all? What’s the point of him having a title on the show?”
Variety previously described Jelly Roll’s “artist-in-residence” position as making him “a permanent fixture this season.” It was shared he would “work closely with the Idol hopefuls, giving them firsthand advice on how to navigate the journey.”
The publication also noted the timing of Jelly Roll joining the show, as it came around the time former winning contestant Carrie Underwood was welcomed as a judge during Season 23. As previously reported, there has been some speculation from fans that the show might be interested in having Jelly Roll as a new judge.
Fans Think American Idol Is Experimenting With What Jelly Roll Can Do
That said, fans are also trying to piece together just what his exact role is on the show. Once again, a few fans suspected the show was “testing the waters” to see if he’d make a good judge.
Of course, there is one caveat to him being a judge. Many fans also think it’s unlikely the show would have three male judges. This would suggest that Jelly Roll would also be considered if either Lionel Richie or Luke Bryan would leave the show. On the other hand, this wasn’t an issue for the original Pop Idol, which started with three male judges and a fourth female judge.
Even fans who weren’t entirely sure on the matter, however, admitted they still enjoyed him on American Idol. Some comments included:
- “He’s there to boost confidence and be a stage mom. But he’s also the resident artist, so I’m guessing he helps them behind the scenes. I’ve liked seeing him this season.”
- “He’s shown in the contestant area cheering on the contestants during each song, and in the last episode he spoke at least once. And I’m guessing he’s interacting with the contestants throughout the week.”
- “He probably assists with song choice, even wardrobe and blocking, perhaps.”
- “To me, it looks like he’s auditioning to be a judge next season. Carrie has sewed up the country side of things for them, so they’re covered on that front. He’s more current than Luke and probably has a broader appeal.”
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