Country star Jelly Roll took aim at Donald Trump’s weight and motorcade antics during a scathing monologue while guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The high-profile late-night appearance follows the singer’s massive 300-pound weight loss and his recent divorce from Bunnie Xo.
Stepping behind the late-night desk for a multi-night stint, country music artist Jelly Roll surprised viewers with a barrage of political jabs during his opening monologue as guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The Antioch native, who previously filled in for the host last summer, used his platform to critique Donald Trump following an IndyCar race in Washington, D.C.
IndyCar Jabs and Motorcade Quips
Jelly Roll wasted no time addressing what he termed the main event in America this weekend, referring to the capital city race hosted by the president. The singer criticized Trump’s handling of the American flag during the event.
The cars drove through the streets of D.C., and there’s Donald Trump who apparently has never held a flag before. What a s–t job! How do you f–k up waving a flag?
Jelly Roll, via TheWrap
The musical guest turned host also targeted Trump’s motorcade trip around the racing circuit. He quipped that the lap of honor sounded more like a loyalty program at a strip club, complete with 5% cash back in the champagne room for all Lap of Honor members. The country singer, best known for his anthems “Save Me,” Son of a Sinner
and “I Am Not Okay,” filled in for host Jimmy Kimmel for the second year in a row, noting during his appearance that it marked the first time he’s worn a suit and a tie ever.
Addressing Weight and Personal Transformation
The conversation quickly turned to physical fitness. Jelly Roll brought up reports regarding Trump’s weight gain, noting that according to the Washington Post, a lot of doctors are worried about the president’s weight after he gained 14 pounds since his last physical, which means he’s now tipping the scales of almost 240. The candid commentary drew a direct comparison to the singer’s own highly publicized physical overhaul.
Over the past few years, Jelly Roll dropped nearly 300 pounds, dropping from his heaviest weight of 540 pounds to around 265 pounds, and trimming his signature beard. Real name Jason DeFord, the singer previously shared on The Bobby Bones Show that his mother gave him the nickname Jelly Roll because he was a chubby kid, stating, I've been fat my whole life. She started calling me Jelly Roll when I was young, and I spent the next 20 years trying to grow into the name.
Reflecting on his total weight loss, the Grammy winner told the studio audience that he had lost an entire Donald Trump, adding, And let’s be honest, based on his approval rating it seems like most of the country wants to do the same thing.
Summer Schedule and Recent Personal Changes
Jelly Roll’s late-night hosting gig arrives during a transitional period for the artist. Although country star Jelly Roll is scaling back on live shows for the rest of the year, he is still set to guest host Jimmy Kimmel Live!
this summer during the week of Aug. 24 while Kimmel is on his summer break. The original guest hosting announcement arrived days after Jelly Roll’s divorce news lit up the internet, with the ABC late-night host sharing that the Antioch native will be one of five celebs filling in during Kimmel’s two-month vacation this summer alongside Tiffany Haddish, Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, and Rosie O’Donnell.
The television appearance also follows news of his divorce from his wife of nearly 10 years, Alisa DeFord, known as Bunnie Xo. Court documents obtained by the Daily Mail show the Grammy winner filed for divorce from Bunnie, 46, last month in Tennessee. Despite the separation, Bunnie shared on her podcast, “Dumb Blonde,that they are still having a baby together, explaining,
We’re going to co-parent together. J is my best friend. This isn’t what you guys think this is… Nobody cheated on the other person.” Jelly Roll also publicly agreed at a June concert in Saratoga Springs, New York, that they are still best friends and that there was no infidelity.
Furthermore, Jelly Roll shares a close friendship and musical partnership with Post Malone. Aside from collaborating on the song “Losers,” the two singers hit the road for two tours, with Post Malone taking Jelly Roll on his first international tour to Europe.
