Country music star Jelly Roll used his final night as guest host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to address his political leanings and clarify his previous apolitical stance. His comments come days after a series of jokes about President Donald Trump's appearance and approval ratings, which he made during his hosting stint.

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, pushed back against the notion that he was being coerced into making political jokes by the show's writers. "Let’s be real about this y’all: Do you think I would take orders from some sweaty little dork named Josh?" he told the audience. He noted the polarized reactions to his recent public persona, stating, "It is funny that before this week everybody thought I was MAGA. And now they think I’m some sort of liberal snowflake."

He explained that while he has previously shied away from discussing politics, his participation in events like the UFC Freedom 250, which was held at the White House, has drawn scrutiny. "But just because I watched a fight on TV, doesn’t mean I support everything this administration does," Jelly Roll said. "Just like how hosting Jimmy Kimmel’s show doesn’t mean I have all of Jimmy Kimmel’s politics."

He described his views as being "pretty down the middle," identifying himself as a Christian, a country music singer, a farmer, and a bow hunter. "Sure, I lean left on some things," he admitted, "But like most folks, I’m pretty down the middle."

Jelly Roll also reflected on a moment during the 2026 Grammy Awards where he declined to offer an opinion on the country's political climate. He expressed regret for not articulating his feelings sooner, fearing his words would be misconstrued as political statements. "I was afraid that anything I was going to say was going to be immediately taken as a political statement," he said.

The artist, who was pardoned by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in December 2025 after a history of legal issues, revealed his intention to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. He emphasized that his past inability to vote, due to a felony conviction, has made him appreciate the right. "And, ironically, by trying so hard not to make a political statement, I became one," he remarked. "But now that I have that right, it’s one I plan to exercise this coming November."

He stated his desire to "speak for the unspoken for" and asserted that core values transcend political divides. "Human dignity isn’t Republican nor Democrat. Compassion isn’t left-wing and mercy isn’t right-wing. Pain and healing knows no partisanship," he added.

Jelly Roll concluded his monologue by sharing a story about his father, a Democrat, and his uncle, a Republican, who remained best friends despite their political differences, framing it as an example of true American unity.

Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, commented that Jelly Roll's approach of stating his position and then refraining from further justification was effective. Mudd highlighted the effectiveness of the anecdote about his father and uncle, calling it the "real point of his whole monologue."