The moment showcased the true bond these country artists share both on and off the stage.

Over the weekend, Jelly Roll and Cody Johnson came together to sing the Antioch, TN native’s “Son of a Sinner” at the Faster Horses music festival in Brooklyn, MI.

The festival took place from July 19-21 and featured the artists as the final two acts to hit the main stage on opening night. It was during Jelly Roll’s set that he invited his friend and fellow country star to surprise the crowd by joining him in singing the soulful tune that has become a stand-out in his catalog.

In a video captured by fans, the pair are seen sharing a laugh on stage as Johnson admitted to the crowd that Jelly Roll had invited him to come out just five minutes before he was set to take the stage. The “I Am Not Okay” singer then paused mid-way through the performance to explain that the man standing next to him is “one of my best friends in the world.”

 

They barely got to finish out the final chorus as the crowd took over and started singing along, causing them to stop and admire the incredible support for the track that washed over the concert-goers. They alternated between passionately singing the lyrics and extending their mics to the audience, allowing the fans to sing along enthusiastically.

In addition to “Son of a Sinner,” Johnson and Jelly Roll also performed a soulful rendition of their collaborative track, “Whiskey Bent,” which appears on the Texas native’s 2023 album, Leather. This is the same song that Jelly Roll came out to sing during Johnson’s set at this year’s CMA Fest.

Cody Johnson and Jelly Roll perform at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 7 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville.

These country stars are never far from each other as they are always seen catching up or sharing the stage when the opportunity arises. In June, they were both scheduled to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, and once again found themselves hanging out backstage. After discussing the plans for their performances that night, Johnson referenced the strength of their friendship, saying, “I’m the peanut butter, he’s the Jelly.”

There is no doubt that they are true friends both on the stage and off. During a recent interview with Country 102.5, Johnson admitted that the first time they met they “just hit it off” as they discussed some of the most important aspects of their lives like marriage and church. He also admitted that they have shared many honest conversations about their desire to stay authentic to their true selves and never allow others to try and change them.

“He told me one of the very first times that I met him, ‘I modeled my career after you.’ He said, ‘I wanted to stay indecent because I wanted to be myself. I didn’t want anybody to change me.’ He said, ‘I wanted to go through the ups and downs and the hardships of trying to do it on your own the way you did it because I feel like it instills more of an appreciation,’” Johnson explained.

“I’m not knocking anybody, but I didn’t come off of TikTok and get a record deal and go straight to stadiums and play. I know what it’s like to starve, and so does he,” he added.

Jelly Roll and Cody Johnson are very busy balancing their lives as fathers and husbands with their flourishing careers, but it seems that having each other to lean on for support has allowed them to make it all work.