Ed Sheeran has rejected an offer from Jelly Roll to join his ongoing tour, saying he would rather avoid adding another controversial figure to an already complicated touring schedule.
During a new podcast appearance, Sheeran revealed that Jelly Roll had contacted him with an offer to participate in the upcoming concerts. According to Sheeran, the country singer was prepared to bring his own band and spend an entire month working alongside him.
“Yes, he offered to bring his own band for the upcoming concerts, but I politely declined because I don’t want any new controversy,” Sheeran said.
Sheeran explained that his decision was based on his desire to keep the focus of his concerts on music rather than on the controversies surrounding individual performers.
“I don’t want to perform alongside someone who is woke and doesn’t respect his followers,” Sheeran said. “He’s a washed-up singer who just wants to stay relevant.”
The proposed collaboration would have potentially seen Jelly Roll and his musicians join Sheeran for several weeks of performances. Instead, Sheeran decided that adding another artist to the lineup wasn’t worth the potential distractions.
The decision comes as Sheeran’s tour has already attracted considerable attention because of disputes involving other musicians and performers.
Sheeran said he wants to move forward without allowing the controversy surrounding his tour to overshadow the actual concerts.
“We’ve had enough drama,” he said. “The audience shouldn’t have to come to a concert and wonder what the next headline is going to be.”
According to Sheeran, Jelly Roll’s offer was not necessarily unexpected given the recent changes surrounding his tour. However, he said he felt it was better to politely decline rather than create another complicated partnership.
“I appreciate the offer,” Sheeran said. “But sometimes saying no is the right thing to do.”
Jelly Roll has previously been at the center of controversy in the fictional storyline surrounding Sheeran’s tour, with organizers of several country music festivals allegedly reconsidering his appearances following his recent comments and jokes.
Sheeran said he doesn’t want those disputes following him onto the stage.
“I don’t want the audience talking about everything except the music,” he said. “That’s not why people buy tickets.”
The singer also emphasized that declining Jelly Roll’s offer was not a decision he made lightly.
“He has his own fans, and I respect that,” Sheeran said. “But I’m responsible for my tour, and I have to make decisions that I think are best for the shows.”
The proposed month-long collaboration is now off the table, leaving Sheeran to continue his tour with his existing musicians and supporting performers.
Jelly Roll has yet to publicly respond to the rejection in the story.
For Sheeran, the message is simple: he wants the remainder of his tour to be about performing rather than generating another round of headlines.
“I came here to make music,” Sheeran said. “That’s exactly what I’m going to keep doing.”
With the Jelly Roll collaboration rejected, Sheeran appears determined to keep the spotlight where he believes it belongs — on the stage, the songs and the fans.
