Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson don’t need any saving, ’cause they just took home music event of the year at the 2024 ACM Awards. The duo accepted the prize together Thursday night (May 16) onstage at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, with the “Son of a Sinner” singer giving one of his signature emotional speeches as his duet partner looked on with pride.
Wilson kicked off the acceptance speech by promising to keep it short and simple, as she knew that Jelly was about “to preach” when it came to his turn at the microphone. But she did take a moment to thank the Tennessee native for featuring her on the track, which appears on Jelly’s 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel, and peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November.
As the “Need a Favor” artist stepped up to the mic, his wife, podcaster Bunnie XO, was visibly emotional as she watched him from her seat in the audience. “This song saved me,” he told the crowd with tears in his eyes. “I was in a dark place. I thought I would die and go to jail, and I’m standing here today an ACM Awards winner.”
Wilson and Jelly first premiered “Save Me” at the 2023 ACM Awards. This year, they both performed separately, with the former opening the show with her new song “Hang Tight Honey” shortly before the latter brought the heat with “Liar.”
Both stars are also nominated for entertainer of the year at the 2024 awards, which are hosted by Reba McEntire and produced by Dick Clark Productions.
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