SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Country singer Jelly Roll has been playing sold-out shows across the U.S. as part of his “Beautifully Broken” tour. But earlier this week, his venue wasn’t a massive arena: it was the Oregon State Penitentiary.
The award-winning artist posted a video and photos of his visit to the Salem prison on Instagram, showing him singing a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and signing autographs for people incarcerated at the prison.
According to Jelly Roll, it was the first live music in the prison yard in 20 years.
“I am a firm believer that if we commit crimes we should do our time and be held accountable for our actions, but I also believe that every human deserves love no matter how bad of a decision they have made,” the 39-year-old wrote on Instagram.
Jelly Roll, who was incarcerated in his youth, said he wrote his first song while behind bars.
“It never feels better than to come back behind…