Disney/Frank Micelotta
The 2023 CMA Awards kicked off with a surprise appearance by Wynonna Judd, who participated Jelly Roll for her performance of “Need a Favor.”
During the powerful duet, Judd grabbed Jelly Roll’s arm and sang along, worrying some fans. Judd explained on TikTok that he was “so nervous” that he “endured it for the rest of my life.”
After the show, Alecia Davis of “Extra” met Judd backstage, where she opened up about her “emotional” performance.
Wynonna explained her feelings: i will do it. I feel like the adrenaline went through the roof and fell off my head and now I’m recovering… I don’t know how to explain it… I feel like I’ve been on a roller coaster and just got off and I’m overwhelmed. I got excited and said, “Let’s go again!” Can we do it again? That was really fun. ”
Alecia commented that Judd was getting emotional while singing, and Judd agreed. She was “very emotional. ‘I had a tough day for mom,'” she said, referring to the suicide of her mother, Naomi Judd, in April 2022. It’s there for him. I’m there for myself, but I still want it to be so good, so there’s a lot going on… People don’t know, they think we’re making it look easy. And that’s what we do, but the truth is, tonight was so great, heavy and sweet and wonderful, that’s life. ”
She added, “That’s the beauty of life. We all have something to work on and heal.”
Alecia hugged her and told her she wasn’t alone. “I know I have the best people around me,” Wynonna said. “You have to reach out. Reach out, reach out. Don’t do it yourself. I tried that and it didn’t work.”
Wynonna first met Jelly Roll at the CMT Awards, where she told Alecia: It was like I literally threw myself in front of them. I don’t do that often. Believe it or not, I get really shy when I meet people like that. ”
She continued, “Something happened and we connected on a really deep level. It’s a little story, but you get there. We wrote some songs and talked about how being in prison was… I’m going to talk about what it’s like and what life is like after that.”
Alecia also interviewed Jelly Roll backstage and spoke about her relationship with Wynonna: I think Wynonna came into my life for a reason. I mean, I’m telling her about my real, real, real life. I get deep with her and she gets deep with me and I love her for it. I owe her more than she knows. ”
He later added, “She always had a heart for those who were hurt,” referring to the Judds’ hit song, “Love can build bridges, baby.”
Regarding Wynonna agreeing to sing “Need a Favor” with him, Jelly Roll said, “She didn’t have to do this. She wouldn’t do this for a lot of people. Wynonna. It’s a big deal that he chose me.”
