3S. FLASH NEWS: After his Grammy sweep, Jelly Roll drops a Super Bowl halftime idea that could change country music forever
Jelly Roll didn’t just leave the 2026 Grammy Awards with trophies.
He left with an idea — and it’s one that could put country music back on the biggest stage in American sports.
The rapper-turned-country superstar had a banner weekend at the Grammys, finally breaking through after years of nominations without a win. This time, he walked away with three awards: Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen” with Shaboozey, Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” alongside Brandon Lake.
But while the awards made headlines, it was what Jelly Roll said before the ceremony that may have sparked the most conversation.
While attending the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala, Jelly Roll was asked by Entertainment Weekly about the possibility of a country music Super Bowl halftime show — and he didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me a Super Bowl halftime question,” he said, before pointing out something that immediately caught fans’ attention: Nashville could realistically host the Super Bowl within the next three to five years thanks to the city’s new stadium.
And that’s where the dream began.
Jelly Roll floated the idea of a country-themed halftime show — not led by a single headliner, but built as a celebration of the genre itself. A moment where country music’s past, present, and future all share the same stage.
He even joked that he’d be happy with just “20 or 30 seconds” if it meant being part of it.
But the real headline came when he started naming names.
“I’d love to see Tim McGraw. I’d love to see Garth Brooks. I’d love to see Reba McEntire. I’d love to see Dolly Parton,” Jelly Roll said, before turning his attention to the modern era. “Morgan Wallen, HARDY… the new guard. Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson. All of our friends.”
He imagined a halftime show that doesn’t divide generations — but connects them. Legends standing shoulder to shoulder with today’s chart-toppers. Not one star dominating the spotlight, but a genre presenting itself as a unified force.
It’s an ambitious idea. And a risky one.
Country music hasn’t been the centerpiece of the Super Bowl halftime show in over two decades. The last time a country artist headlined the event was Shania Twain in 2003. Before that, the genre’s most iconic moment came in 1994, when Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds took the stage in a show that’s still remembered as one of the most authentic halftime performances ever.
Since then, the halftime stage has largely belonged to pop, hip-hop, and crossover acts — reflecting shifts in mainstream culture and global audiences.
But country music has changed too.
It’s bigger, louder, and more commercially dominant than it’s been in years. Artists like Morgan Wallen routinely top all-genre charts. Stadium tours sell out in minutes. Streaming numbers rival any genre in the industry.
Jelly Roll’s proposal feels like a modern echo of that 1994 moment — updated for a new era, a new audience, and a new Nashville.
Of course, there are obstacles. Super Bowl halftime shows are global productions, carefully curated for maximum mass appeal. A country-only lineup would be a bold departure from recent trends — and not everyone would welcome it.
But that may be exactly the point.
Jelly Roll isn’t pitching safety. He’s pitching identity.
With Super Bowls already scheduled for Los Angeles and Atlanta in 2027 and 2028, Nashville wouldn’t be in play until at least 2030. That gives the idea time to grow — or time to be dismissed.
Either way, the conversation has started.
And for a genre that hasn’t held the Super Bowl spotlight in 20 years, that alone feels like a crack in the door.
💥 BREAKING NEWS: White Sox face franchise-defining choice with No. 1 draft pick ⚡.ht
The White Sox hold the No. 1 pick.
But the real question isn’t who’s best — it’s who fits a franchise desperate to get this right.
💥 BREAKING: Inside White Sox’s No. 1 Pick Dilemma as Roch Cholowsky Heats Up — And New Contenders Surge
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox are staring at a franchise-altering decision.
With the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, the Sox control the board. And for months, the name linked to that top spot has been UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky — a “true five-tool prospect” compared by some scouts to Troy Tulowitzki.
But as July approaches, the choice suddenly doesn’t feel automatic anymore.
Because new contenders are emerging.
And the White Sox’ future at shortstop is already crowded.
The Cholowsky Surge
If the draft were held today, Roch Cholowsky might sprint to the podium himself.
Seven games into the 2026 college season, he’s posted a jaw-dropping .393/.486/1.143 slash line with six home runs. That’s not a typo.
Last year, he crushed 23 homers and posted a 1.190 OPS.
The bat is explosive.
The defense is polished.
The upside? Massive.
MLB.com ranks him as the No. 1 draft prospect, and Sports Illustrated’s Elias Schuster calls him a complete five-tool talent.
But as Schuster cautioned, comparisons — especially to a name like Tulowitzki — can inflate expectations fast.
Still, Cholowsky’s ceiling is undeniable.
The Logjam Problem
Here’s where things get complicated.
The White Sox aren’t starving at shortstop.
They already have:
- Colson Montgomery, who launched 21 home runs in just 71 rookie games.
- Caleb Bonemer, a second-round pick who posted an .874 OPS with 29 steals in his first pro season.
- Billy Carlson, widely regarded as one of the best defensive shortstop prospects in the minors, with elite arm strength.
Add in multiple second- and third-base prospects, and suddenly the infield depth chart looks congested.
Cholowsky is primarily a shortstop. Scouts question whether he has the defensive versatility or speed to shift comfortably elsewhere long term.
Drafting him could mean shifting — or even blocking — players already viewed as foundational.
But passing on a potential generational bat carries its own risk.
A Rebuild on the Clock
This draft isn’t just about talent.
It’s about timing.
The White Sox are attempting to turn the corner from a painful rebuild. Ownership and the front office, led by GM Chris Getz and manager Will Venable, know this pick must accelerate the process — not extend it.
That urgency could impact the decision.
Do they draft:
- The highest ceiling player?
- The safest, most MLB-ready bat?
- Or the prospect who best fits their long-term structure?
The margin for error at No. 1 is razor thin.
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The Justin Lebron Wild Card
While most headlines scream Cholowsky, Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron is quietly forcing his way into the conversation.
In eight games this season, Lebron has:
- Five home runs
- A staggering 1.295 OPS
- Eight stolen bases
He’s explosive. He’s versatile. And unlike Cholowsky, he has the speed and athleticism to potentially move to the outfield if necessary.
MLB.com draft expert Jonathan Mayo even noted scouts wouldn’t be shocked if Lebron “played his way into No. 1 pick conversations.”
The only knock? Plate discipline. He tends to chase.
But his tools — four of them graded plus — make him impossible to ignore.
The Age Factor
There’s also Grady Emerson, ranked No. 2 overall.
The issue isn’t talent.
It’s age.
At just 18, Emerson may not align with Chicago’s desire to fast-track its rebuild. The Sox may prioritize someone closer to MLB readiness — someone who can impact the roster within two to three years.
That dynamic makes this draft uniquely strategic.
Generational Talent vs. Organizational Fit
The White Sox must ask themselves one brutal question:
If Roch Cholowsky becomes a superstar elsewhere, can they live with it?
Because positional logjams can be solved later — through trades, shifts, or creative development.
Passing on elite talent is much harder to justify.
At the same time, drafting another shortstop into an already stacked pipeline could create developmental tension and roster headaches.
It’s a gamble either way.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
The No. 1 pick doesn’t just bring hope.
It brings scrutiny.
If Cholowsky keeps mashing at this pace, the choice may become undeniable.
If Lebron’s power-speed combo continues surging, Chicago may face the most fascinating draft debate in baseball.
One thing is clear:
The White Sox are in position to change their franchise.
Now they have to decide which future they believe in most.
