Jelly Roll Says AA Meeting Inspired New Album Track ‘Winning Streak’

Jelly Roll opened up about his experience with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, a subject he never discussed publicly before. In a candid interview with The New York Times, the artist shared insights about an unreleased song titled “Winning Streak,” which will feature on his upcoming album, Beautifully Broken, set for release in the fall of 2024.

Jelly Roll explained that “Winning Streak” captures a story he witnessed at an AA meeting, which he attends to combat his “demons.” He elaborated on his current relationship with substances, stating, “I still will have a cocktail every now and then and I’m a known weed smoker, but I got away from the drugs that I knew were gonna kill me.”

He revealed his struggle to distance himself from dangerous substances like cocaine, pain pills, and codeine. Despite not being “textbook sober,” Jelly Roll continues to attend AA meetings. “I will still attend the meetings, even though I’m not a textbook sober guy — but I never share; I just quietly sit and appreciate the message and the meaning,” he said.

Jelly Roll emphasized this is the first time he has spoken about his AA meetings publicly. “I don’t tell people I go to meetings. It’s not a part of my story that I share because I have so much respect for the men and women in that program who get actually completely sober, that I never want my stuff to get in the way of them,” he admitted.

He described the significant moment at an AA meeting that inspired “Winning Streak.” The song, although told from a first-person perspective, narrates another individual’s journey. He reflected on how first-person songs from artists like James Taylor have emotionally impacted him. Encountering a troubled individual at a meeting prompted an older member to say, “Look man, it’s all good. Nobody came in here on a winning streak,” a phrase that resonated deeply with everyone present and sparked the creation of the song.

Another track from his upcoming album, “Get By,” will be featured as the soundtrack for ESPN’s season-long college football coverage across ESPN networks and ABC. Jelly Roll recently collaborated with Post Malone on the song “Losers” from Malone’s album, F-1 Trillion. He is also gearing up for a series of headlining tour dates later this month.

Fans can listen to the full interview with The New York Times, which lasts over half an hour, to hear more from the artist.