*Proving that celebrities are just as human as us, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s first in-person with Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord proved to be an unforgettable emotional experience.
Taking to social media, Johnson shared footage of the meeting, which was nearly 10 years in the making. The WWE legend is seen praising Jelly Roll for his efforts to lose weight. At the time, DeFord was coming out of his trailer when the acknowledgment took place.
“Man, I’m so proud of you,” Johnson said as Jelly Roll shared he lost 200 pounds so far, with another 100 to go. “I feel great, too,” the smiling “Bloodline” singer responded.
From there, a bonding session took place as Johnson and Jelly recalled their beginnings in Nashville. Johnson remembered a man he lived with when he was 15 years old after his family got evicted in Hawaii and he thought he’d be able to live with his father.
That man, who ultimately became a dear friend that Johnson is still close with, gave him a vintage postcard of the motel they lived in.
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Despite their recent face-to-face encounter, the connection between Johnson and Jelly Roll is a strong one, going back to 2017.
During that time, the “Moana” film series star was “going through some s–t” internally while projecting success and movie stardom on the outside.
Detailing his struggle, Johnson mentioned that it was Jelly Roll’s song “Only” that brought him through his tribulations.
“Several years ago (roughly 2017) I was going through a very hard thing at the time, I was struggling. My mental wellness turned into my mental hellness,” he voiced in the caption to his video.
“Many of you know the drill, you put on ‘the face,’ show up to work, smile and get through it,” he continued.
The Rock added: “Perhaps not the healthiest thing to do, but it’s what I was used to doing at the time.”
“I said, ‘Brother, you have never met me, I’ve never met you, but I just heard a song from you and it really f–king rocked me,” Johnson continued, referencing “Only.”
“It moved me. I’m going through some s–t and I just want you to know that this song means a lot to me. And I look forward to meeting you one day.”
“That’s what music does,” Jelly Roll said after hearing Johnson’s story. “It has the ability to meet us there.”
Similar Trials and Tribulations
Johnson’s struggle strikes a similar chord with Jelly Roll, who admitted sticking with his musical aspirations amid hard times for him and his family was a challenge.
“You don’t know what that meant to me, because, you know, I’m at a point in my career then where you’re wondering will it even work,” the country star told Johnson while referencing talks with his wife Bunnie Xo about whether or not he should give up music to go back to college and pursue a regular job.
Johnson’s testimony reinforced that Jelly Roll’s decision to stay with entertainment was the right call.
“I call them God waves,” he said. It’s like any time you’re a little sideways and God gives you one of those, Nah, I’m straight. I’m straighter than I thought I was. I’m cool, we’re coasting, we’re doing good.”
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