Lee Greenwood has canceled five upcoming performances with Jelly Roll, becoming the latest country star to step away from the singer amid the fallout over his recent controversial remarks.
The decision follows similar moves involving Kid Rock and Blake Shelton, who have also distanced themselves from Jelly Roll in the wake of the controversy.
According to sources close to Greenwood, the singer was concerned that Jelly Roll’s recent “wokeland” turn could spill over into his own concerts and create tension with fans. Greenwood reportedly did not want his performances to become part of the ongoing political argument surrounding Jelly Roll.
Greenwood had previously been one of Jelly Roll’s supporters. He viewed him as one of the most promising newer names in country music and had no problem sharing the stage with him before the latest controversy.
That changed after Jelly Roll’s recent remarks.
“I’ve supported Jelly, but his recent remarks have made it impossible for me to defend him. I don’t want to hurt my fans,” Greenwood said.
The country music veteran said he also had no interest in dealing with the backlash that could come from continuing to perform alongside Jelly Roll.
“I’m not getting booed for that wokester, and I don’t want his controversy to follow me,” Greenwood added.
The five canceled performances had been expected to draw fans of both artists, but Greenwood ultimately decided that the potential problems outweighed the benefits of keeping the collaboration intact.
People close to the singer said Greenwood was particularly concerned about his longtime fan base. Rather than risk turning his own shows into a debate over Jelly Roll’s comments, he decided to remove the singer from the schedule.
The move has added another layer to the growing controversy surrounding Jelly Roll. The singer has become one of the biggest names in country music, but his recent political comments have divided fans and created tension with some of the artists and audiences who previously embraced him.
Not everyone agrees with the decision to cancel the performances. Jelly Roll’s supporters say musicians should be judged primarily on their music and that artists should be able to hold their own political opinions.
Critics, however, argue that Greenwood has every right to decide who he wants to share a stage with and to protect the audience relationship he has built over decades.
For Greenwood, the decision appears final. The five performances will move forward without Jelly Roll, although it remains unclear whether another artist will be brought in as his replacement.
The latest development also raises questions about Jelly Roll’s upcoming collaborations. With several artists now reportedly reconsidering their associations with him, the singer could face a more difficult road when it comes to future joint performances.
Jelly Roll has not commented on Greenwood’s decision.
Greenwood, meanwhile, appears ready to move ahead with his own shows without getting pulled further into the controversy surrounding his former collaborator.
