Introduction:
Kane Brown Opens Up About Past Beef With Jelly Roll Ahead of New Album The High Road
Multi-platinum country star Kane Brown is set to release his new album, The High Road, on Friday, Jan. 24, and one of its standout tracks is a collaboration with Jelly Roll tackling a serious subject: depression. But fans might be surprised to learn that the two artists didn’t start out as friends—Jelly Roll actually used to dislike Kane.
In a candid interview with Taste of Country Nights, Brown explained the history. “I heard of him before he had ever gotten into the country industry, because I was hanging out with some other guys in the world that Jelly was in,” Kane recalled. “We had the same kinda background. But we never talked to each other, even though we had mutual friends.”
Their mutual friend Taylor Phillips had tried to vouch for Kane when Jelly Roll expressed frustration. “Taylor told him, ‘Nah, man, you don’t know him—he’s just really quiet,’” Brown said, noting that he had been shy and reserved early in his career.
Determined to clear the air, Kane reached out directly to Jelly Roll. “I was like, ‘Hey buddy, this industry’s crazy. If you ever need to sit down and talk to me, or play COD—I play a lot of Call of Duty—you can come and talk to me about it.’” Jelly Roll accepted the invitation, and the two bonded over late-night gaming sessions, eventually becoming fast friends.
The collaboration, titled “Haunted,” grew out of this newfound friendship. Kane said, “I wrote this song and thought of him jumping on it.” During the music video shoot, Jelly Roll jokingly admitted on camera, “I used to f—king hate this dude! But now I love this guy!” Brown laughed, saying he had suspected the tension but never heard it directly.
Now, it’s all positive energy. Kane praised Jelly Roll’s contributions, saying, “Jelly’s such a good guy, man. I love him and I’m proud of his success, and he amplified this song. I’m just glad he’s on it. Hopefully we get a big hit that’s huge awareness for people to know they’re not alone going through depression.”
The High Road marks Kane’s fourth studio album, and the partnership with Jelly Roll highlights his willingness to explore serious themes alongside his signature country-pop sound. To support the album, Kane will embark on The High Road Tour this March, bringing both new songs and fan favorites to audiences across the country.
With their past differences resolved, Kane Brown and Jelly Roll now serve as an example of how honest communication, shared creativity, and even late-night gaming can turn past beef into a meaningful collaboration—and a message of hope for anyone struggling with depression.