Jelly Roll shocked the T-Mobile Arena audience with an electrifying, genre-spanning medley of covers when he performed at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards presented by Capital One. He was one of several artists to take the stage on Friday (September 19), the first night of the two-night event in Las Vegas Nevada.

The reigning iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Artist of the Year surprised the crowd when he offered a sneak peek of his playlist. Jelly Roll explained that growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, he and his family listened to every genre of music. He proved it with a medley that included Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me,” DMX’s “Party Up,” and Snoop Dogg and Whiz Khalifa’s “Young, Wild & Free.” Jelly Roll noted that his wife, Bunnie Xo, was unable to attend the festival in her hometown in person, so she requested he include a cover for the ladies in the venue. Jelly Roll included “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus in the unexpected medley, which served as a massive audience sing-along.

The country megastar also took the T-Mobile Arena audience to church — and delivered a powerful message — during his soulful performance. He introduced himself to the arena audience as “Jason ‘Jelly Roll’ DeFord,” and said “I make real music for real people.” The Beautifully Broken hitmaker has previously described his music as “therapeutic,” and placed a strong emphasis on connecting deeply with his fans. Jelly Roll said he “didn’t plan on singing this song tonight,” but opted to bring the arena “to church” with “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” a collaboration he released earlier this year with Christian singer-songwriter Brandon Lake. The duet is nominated in the Musical Event of the Year category at the upcoming 59th Country Music Association Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Jelly Roll said, in part, when he led into “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” in case no one else told the audience today, “I love you. I believe in you, and I believe in the power of love. …I believe in humanity because I believe in the power of God. I didn’t plan on giving this speech…I didn’t plan on singing this song tonight …We’re going to church at the T-Mobile Arena.”

The Nashville-born artist, who performed for Pope Leo XIV earlier this month, captivated the Vegas crowd with the decades-spanning surprise medley, his emotional power ballads and fiery anthems throughout his set. That includes performances of “Liar,” “Wild Ones” (a collaboration with Jessie Murph), “I Am Not Okay,” and Whitsitt Chapel smash-hit singles “Need A Favor” and “Save Me” (a duet with Lainey WIlson).

The star-studded, genre-spanning event returns on Friday and Saturday night (September 20) to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The lineup of the 2025 show includes Jelly Roll, plus Bailey Zimmerman, BigXthaPlug, Bryan Adams, Ed Sheeran, Diplo, GloRilla, John Fogerty, Justice, LL COOL J, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Sammy Hagar, Tate McRae, The Offspring, and Tim McGraw.

Fans can tune in to the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival as the music mega event will be broadcast live each night at 7:30pm PT/10:30pm PT via iHeartMedia radio stations throughout the country across more than 150 markets. Hulu will be the Official Streaming Destination of the festival, with performances livestreamed each night exclusively to all Hulu subscribers. Find more info here.

In case you missed it, or just want to relive it all again, fans can tune in to an iHeartRadio Music Festival special, including highlights from the music mega weekend, on Hulu on Thursday, October 2nd.

Tess Connell