Kelly Clarkson delivered a heartfelt cover of one of Jelly Roll’s most impactful songs on a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Her powerful performance moved the rapper-turned-country singer to tears.

In a segment called Kellyoke, Clarkson showcases her versatility by covering popular songs from various genres. On Thursday, February 15, she took the stage to perform “Save Me,” originally released by Jelly Roll as a duet with Lainey Wilson in 2023.

Clarkson elevated the song by raising the key several steps, highlighting her impressive vocal range and infusing the performance with a rock edge. Her interpretation intensified the chorus, adding even more emotional depth and power to the original track.

Jelly Roll took to social media after watching the clip, expressing his amazement that a prominent artist like Kelly Clarkson chose to feature one of his songs.

“I never would have imagined that I’d write a song so impactful that the incredible Kelly Clarkson would decide to cover it,” Jelly Roll shared.

He continued, “Thank you, Kelly — wow — I’m honored in ways I can’t even describe — I cried watching it.”

Jelly Roll originally included “Save Me” on his Self Medicated album in 2020. He added Wilson for a remix that he released to country radio as the second single from his first official country album, Whitsitt Chapel, in May of 2023.

The duet version of the song climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and earned nominations for Musical Event of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards, as well as Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

Over the past year, Jelly Roll has made a remarkable impact on the country music landscape, and he is set to release his debut full-length country album, Whitsitt Chapel, on June 2. Before diving deeper into the genre, let’s take a trip down memory lane with 11 songs that hinted at his promising country music career.

There’s a compelling reason why Jelly Roll is featuring “Save Me” on his upcoming country album: it epitomizes true country music. Originally a simple acoustic track, the song has evolved into a powerful duet with Lainey Wilson. The lyrics tell the story of a man who feels he’s made so many mistakes that he believes he’s beyond saving. Although the woman in his life has the potential to rescue him, he insists she shouldn’t waste her time on him. Instead, he chooses to wallow in self-pity and accept his life as it is. If that’s not the quintessential cowboy mentality, what is?