Tennessee Volunteers Fans Are Pretty Mad at Jelly Roll — Here’s Why
Country star Jelly Roll is one of the most universally loved figures in music — but even he isn’t immune to a little college sports controversy. The Nashville native recently found himself in the middle of an SEC rivalry storm after attending a basketball game that had Tennessee Volunteers fans questioning his loyalty.
From “My Volunteers” to Cheering for Vanderbilt?
Just last year, Jelly Roll made his Vols pride known, hyping up fans before a big Tennessee vs. Oklahoma matchup on social media and even referring to the team as “my Volunteers.” He was also spotted cheering from the sidelines during the Vols’ football game against Mississippi State.
But it turns out that his Volunteer spirit might not fully extend to basketball. Over the weekend, Jelly Roll was seen courtside in Nashville during the Volunteers’ road game against the Vanderbilt Commodores — and that’s when things got messy.
The Viral Moment That Sparked the Backlash
In a clip shared by Vanderbilt Athletics, Jelly Roll is seen celebrating a big play for Vanderbilt during their thrilling 76–75 upset victory over the 6th-ranked Volunteers.
“Welcome to Memorial, @JellyRoll615!” the official Vanderbilt account captioned the video.
Naturally, Tennessee fans were not happy. Social media quickly lit up with confusion and frustration:
“So is he a Vandy fan or a Tennessee fan or…?” one fan tweeted.
Some Fans Jumped to His Defense
Not everyone was ready to turn on the “Save Me” singer. A few pointed out that Jelly Roll is from the Nashville area and was invited to the game by Vanderbilt’s athletic director, suggesting it was more about being a hometown celebrity guest than picking sides.
“In Jelly Roll’s defense, he went to a Vandy vs. UT game. Not another school. Of course they’re going to recognize him ’cause he’s a celeb,” one Vols fan posted. “I’m sure he was rooting for Tennessee on the inside.”
A Nashville Guy Through and Through
Jelly Roll has always shown love for Music City’s teams, from the Titans to the Predators, and his civic pride is no secret. So while his Vanderbilt celebration may have rubbed a few Tennessee diehards the wrong way, it’s safe to say he wasn’t pledging allegiance to the Commodores.
Besides, as one fan noted — it’s not like he was rooting for Alabama or Florida.
For now, Jelly Roll remains the same big-hearted, hometown guy — even if his sports fandom momentarily hit a sour note with the Vol Nation.