Why Jelly Roll Was “At a Loss For Words” When Meeting Taylor Swift

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Jelly Roll is opening up about his time meeting Taylor Swift and being starstruck by the superstar for one specific reason.

The country artist spoke to People about his meet-cute with Swift at the 2024 Grammys and how he was practically speechless when she approached him at music’s biggest night.

“I take a ridiculous, probably abnormal, amount of pride in being from Nashville, so anytime I can link a Tennessee connect, it tickles me,” he told the publication. “Taylor lived in Hendersonville for a while, and she had bought a playground. I used to push [my daughter,] Bailee, on that swingset that Taylor donated to Hendersonville. I wanted to tell her that when I met her, but I was so nervous I couldn’t even remember what swingset it was.”

The “Fortnight” singer lived and went to high school in the Tennesee city. In 2010, she teamed up with Little Tikes Commercial to rebuild a playground at a local park and donated $100,000 toward the construction.

Due to their surprising connection, Jelly Roll was especially tongue-tied when Swift approached him at the music awards.

“My wife [Bunnie Xo] said, ‘I think Taylor’s coming over to holler at you,’” he recalled. “It was like the Red Sea parted for her. I’m looking at Taylor Swift, and I have a reason to explain to her why I like her so much, and I’m going, ‘You built the swingset somewhere, my daughter, I pushed her on it.’ I did so bad! Definitely was at a loss for words in that moment.”

While the rapper may have fumbled his first introduction to the “Cruel Summer” singer, he may haver another opportunity to make up for it at the 2025 Grammyswhere both Jelly Roll and Swift are nominated again.