From inspirational ballads and chart-topping hits to poignant homages to Canadian music and gangster rap, global superstar Jelly Roll delivered an emotional, world-class performance for a sold-out crowd at Canada Life Place in London, Ontario, on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
As the countdown clock above the stage struck zero, the Nashville artist wasted no time setting the tone for his highly engaging performance on The Beautifully Broken: Great Northern Tour 2025. Rather than appearing directly on the main stage, he emerged among the fans, making his way through the crowd—shaking hands, bumping fists, and soaking in the electric energy—before arriving at a second stage in the middle of the arena.
With the audience roaring, Jelly Roll stretched his arms wide as pyrotechnic flames erupted from the gazebo-like structure above him. The stage blazed with intensity as he launched into his opening number, “I Am Not Okay.”
Setting the Tone
“Let me tell you what you can expect tonight,” he told the crowd. “You can expect a night of love, you can expect a night of hope, you can expect a night of healing, you can expect a night of therapeutic music, and most importantly, you can expect to see the best concert you’ve ever seen in your life, London. Let’s go.”
From that moment, he delivered exactly what he promised.
“I can’t believe we sold this place out on a Sunday night,” he said, visibly moved.
“I wondered if they were ever going to allow me in this beautiful country. This is my first time and first tour with you, y’all. I’ve been waiting a long time to stand on stage in this beautiful country and introduce myself. Thank you for listening to my music, London. My name is Jason ‘Jelly Roll’ DeFord, and I’m from Nashville, Tennessee, baby.”
Inspiration and Gratitude
Throughout the night, Jelly Roll continually expressed gratitude to his audience while delivering powerful messages of hope and perseverance.
“I also want to say thank you for changing my life,” he said. “Thank you for changing my wife’s life. Thank you for changing our daughter’s life. I broke generational curses because y’all listened to my music. Thank you.”
He shared his belief in the transformative power of music, calling it “medicine,” “magical,” and a “force for healing.” His words resonated deeply, bringing many in the crowd to tears.
“I know what it feels like to feel worthless. I know what it feels like to feel hopeless and helpless. I know what it feels like to think I was never going to make it out of the hole I dug myself into,” he shared. “If you’ve ever felt that way, tonight is a great night to start marching forward, baby. Tonight is a great night to make a change and make a difference.”
At one point, Jelly Roll addressed a fan holding a sign that read, “Thank you for saving my Dad.” He responded with humility and clarity: “Your dad is a strong man. Your dad saved himself. I just gave him something to listen to while he fought his demons, y’all.”
Before he played “Winning Streak,” he turned to another fan’s sign that read, “Going through a rough time, 1,030 days sober and staying strong.”
“I hope when you wake up tomorrow, it’s 1,031,” he said before delivering one of his most impactful statements of the night:
“If you’ve ever heard that voice in your head telling you that you can’t do something, that voice minimizing who you are, telling you that you can’t change—it’s too late to change, it’s too far gone—I want you to know… that voice is a motherfucking liar, baby.”
Country Roots and Musical Tributes
Jelly Roll’s genre-blending artistry was on full display as he paid homage to his country music influences.
“My Mama was the first one to ever play me country music,” he shared. “And just so we’re clear, my Mama listened to the good shit—Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash.”
The audience erupted when he launched into a rendition of “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, joined onstage by his opening act, Canadian country artist Josh Ross.
“It was important to me that, for my first Canadian tour, I brought a Canadian artist with me. I knew I wanted Josh Ross, y’all. He’s the next big country music superstar in Nashville, and he’s a born and raised Canadian.”
Later, Jelly Roll paid tribute to Canadian music legends, performing a medley of “How You Remind Me” by Nickelback, “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette (featuring Savannah Dexter), and “Life Is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane.
Skunks, Gangster Rap, and Humor
Jelly Roll’s versatility shone as he transitioned from country to hip-hop, recounting a hilarious childhood memory of unknowingly smelling marijuana in his house.
“So my cute, fat ass is walking around the house looking for this skunk. And when I got to my older brother’s bedroom door—I cracked the case.”
The band launched into a thunderous cover of “Boyz-n-the-Hood” by N.W.A., followed by “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, “Ms. Jackson” by Outkast, and “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie.
He wrapped up the story with a punchline that had the entire arena laughing: “About two years later, I found that skunk for real… and we’ve been hanging out every day ever since, Canada.”
Dousing the Flames
Jelly Roll closed the show where it began—on the second stage in the center of the arena. With flames still raging from the overhead gazebo, water suddenly cascaded down, extinguishing the fire as he delivered the haunting opening words of “Save Me.”
Bubbles and mist filled the arena, creating an ethereal final moment.
“Spread love and spread kindness. I’ll see y’all next tour, baby,” he said before walking offstage.
The Beautifully Broken: Great Northern Tour 2025 wraps up with two performances in Quebec—Laval on March 25 and Quebec City on March 26. Jelly Roll will also hit the road this summer for a massive stadium tour with Post Malone.
For more updates, follow him at https://jellyroll615.com.
Check out SWOMP’s photos from the night below:
