Jelly Roll Reveals His Surprising Connection to Taylor Swift — and Why He Was 'So Bad' When He Met Her (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jelly Roll and Taylor Swift at the 2024 Grammy Awards in February in Los Angeles.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

He may be a Grammy-nominated country star, but evenJelly Rollgets starstruck sometimes.

Jelly says that upon seeing Swift, 34, he gathered up his courage to tell her about how he used to push hisdaughter Bailee, now 16, on the swings at a children’s playground that she helped fund in Hendersonville, Tenn.

“I take a ridiculous, probably abnormal, amount of pride in being from Nashville, so anytime I can link a Tennessee connect, it tickles me,” he explains. “Taylor lived in Hendersonville for a while, and she had bought a playground. I used to push Bailee on that swingset that Taylor donated to Hendersonville. I wanted to tell her that when I met her, but I was so nervous I couldn’t even remember what swingset it was.”

Bailee DeFord and Jelly Roll at the Kids' Choice Awards in July.Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Jelly says that even though Swift was the one to approach him at the Grammys, he was still left tongue-tied.

“My wife [Bunnie Xo] said, ‘I think Taylor’s coming over to holler at you.’ It was like the Red Sea parted for her,” he recalls. “I’m looking at Taylor Swift and I have a reason to explain to her why I like her so much, and I’m going, ‘You built the swingset somewhere, my daughter, I pushed her on it.’ I did so bad! Definitely was at a loss for words in that moment.”

Jelly Roll.

Jelly may have a chance to redeem himself at the 2025 Grammy Awards in February, as both he and Swift are nominated once more for several trophies. This year, his hit “I Am Not Okay” is up for best country and best country solo performance, while Swift is nominated six times.

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source: people.com