Jelly Roll Describes His Hugging Style: 'Like a Big, Aggressive Bear That Just Comes in Hot' (Exclusive)

After giving out hugs on stage at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, the country star tells PEOPLE about what makes his embraces so special

Anyone who's met Jelly Roll knows he gives a great hug.

The country music star has become known for his particularly strong, passionate hugs, which led to a segment at the 2024 CMT Music Awards last week where host Kelsea Ballerini offered embraces from the "Need a Favor" singer to celebrities in the crowd.

After wrapping his arms around lucky recipients Gayle King, Ashley McBryde and Cody Johnson at the awards show, Jelly is opening up about what makes his hugs so special. "I'm a big hugger in real life, and that's how they wrote that skit, which I thought was cool because I do overly hug people sometimes," the 39-year-old musician tells PEOPLE.

Related: Jelly Roll Reacts to Earning First ACMs Nominations — Including Entertainer of the Year: 'Insanity' (Exclusive)

"I'm kind of like a big, aggressive bear that just comes in hot," says Jelly of his hugging style. "I used to think people would hate me for that, and the fact that they love me for it is really cool."

The "Save Me" performer previously earned recognition for his hugging abilities during an appearance on this year's iteration of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest. In a moment that later went viral online, Jelly was so thrilled after his performance that he hugged and picked up Seacrest, 49.

Clips of the pair's embrace made the rounds on social media, which led Seacrest to turn the moment into a GIF and post it to his Instagram Stories following requests from viewers.

Related: Ryan Seacrest Shares GIF of Jelly Roll Hugging and Picking Him Up on 'Dick Clark's New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

Less than a week after Jelly won three trophies at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, he woke up to his first-ever Academy of Country Music Awards nominations for the upcoming 2024 ceremony on May 7.

"It's just f---ing unbelievable," he told PEOPLE after learning about his four nods — single of the year for "Need a Favor," music event of the year for "Save Me" with Lainey Wilson, male artist of the year and entertainer of the year.

The ACMs nominations also shortly followed his two iHeartRadio Music Award wins for best new artist in both the pop and country categories last week. Only after finding out about the ACMs nods was Jelly finally able to take in all the recent successes.

Related: Jelly Roll Praises 'Supportive' Wife Bunnie XO: 'She Saved Me in One of the Darkest Times of My Life'

"I've been getting healthier, and every morning we get in the sauna, me and my buddies, and we do highs and lows and a gratitude, and man, I just couldn't get off gratitude," he said. "I just couldn't quit thinking about how unreal the last eight days have been."

Such accolades have been a long time coming for Jelly, who entered the music industry over two decades ago as a hip-hop artist before finally earning mainstream recognition upon veering into the country genre with his 2021 album, Ballads of the Broken.

"I spent my whole life just thinking that what I was doing would never be heard or seen," Jelly admitted. "I almost gave up on any dream of this thing ever being like it is now, and man, is it just incredible to be in the middle of it. I'm grateful."

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