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Jelly Roll has been removed from the lineup for this year’s Big Blue Bash after conservative fans criticized him following his recent guest hosting appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The event’s organizers, Blue Lives Matter, announced on September 4 that they are withdrawing their invitation to the country artist, whose real name is Jason DeFord. The Big Blue Bash, set for April 26, 2026, at Mar-A-Lago, serves as a fundraiser for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Foundation.
In their statement, Blue Lives Matter expressed regret over initially inviting Jelly Roll, citing the backlash after his late-night stint in August. During his monologues, Jelly Roll made several jokes touching on President Donald Trump’s weight, the Washington, D.C. IndyCar race, and the trade tensions with Canada.
Despite the criticism, Jelly Roll responded to his fans’ disappointment by saying, “Any U.S. president should be able to handle a few jokes.” He encouraged those who threatened to stop listening to his music to go ahead, asserting he would continue speaking his truth.
He also highlighted his diverse experiences, stating, “I am a Christian. I am a country music singer.
I’m a farmer. But I also spent this past week working in a building with the kindest, most talented group of chihuahua-hugging, oat-milk-latte-loving lefties on God’s green earth, and it was a blast, y’all.”
However, Blue Lives Matter’s leadership was unamused. The group’s owner criticized Jelly Roll’s remarks as inconsistent with Christian values and accused him of seeking attention from a “godless crowd.”
He added, “The man has lost his way. I don’t hate him.
I actually genuinely pity him… This isn’t about politics. This is about knowing who you are as a man.
And you have much to learn.”
The Big Blue Bash will still feature appearances by Lou Ferrigno, Dean Cain, and Kevin Sorbo, whom organizers praise as “American Superheroes.”