SALEM, Ore. – Country singer Jelly Roll has been captivating audiences across the U.S. with his “Beautifully Broken” tour. But his recent performance took place in a unique venue: the Oregon State Penitentiary.

The award-winning artist shared a video and photos of his visit to the Salem prison on Instagram, where he sang a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and signed autographs for the incarcerated individuals.

According to Jelly Roll, this event marked the first live music performance in the prison yard in two decades.

“I am a firm believer in accountability for our actions, but I also believe in showing love and compassion to every human being,” the 39-year-old artist expressed on Instagram.

Having a personal experience with incarceration in his youth, Jelly Roll shared that he wrote his first song behind bars.

His connection to the audience was evident as he mentioned, “It never feels better than to come back behind a wall and sing a song for y’all.”

Jelly Roll’s music often delves into his troubled past and struggles with addiction. In the video from the prison, one man shared how Jelly Roll’s music had a profound impact on his life.

“I heard ‘Save Me’ on the radio, and I got clean that day,” the man revealed, referring to a track from Jelly Roll’s latest album.

Jason DeFord, known as Jelly Roll, initially started his career as a rapper before transitioning to become a celebrated country artist. He was honored with New Artist of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards in 2023.

Reflecting on his own past, Jelly Roll shared, “It felt so good bringing a little light to such a dark place.”