Kelly Clarkson Sings Soulful Cover of Jelly Roll’s “Save Me”

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
Kelly Clarkson  - Credit: Manny Carabel/Getty Images/Audacy
Kelly Clarkson - Credit: Manny Carabel/Getty Images/Audacy

Kelly Clarkson powered through a rendition of Jelly Roll’s platinum hit “Save Me” for her talk show’s latest “Kellyoke” cover on Thursday.

“Save Me” has become one of Jelly Roll’s most popular songs as he’s ascended to country superstardom over the past year. Originally released in 2020 from his album Self Medicated, he released a remixed version of the song with Lainey Wilson last year as the second single for Whitsitt Chapel. The duo have performed the song together numerous times, including at last year’s Country Music Awards and during the finale of season 21 of American Idol. They also performed the track during Grammy Weekend at the glitzy Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton. Both Jelly Roll and Wilson received significant Grammy attention this year, with the “Halfway to Hell” singer getting a Best New Artist nomination while Wilson won Best Country Album for Bell Bottom Country.

More from Rolling Stone

Jelly Roll himself left a YouTube comment on the video, calling Clarkson’s cover the “most honored I’ve ever felt.” “I love Kelly and her voice and soul and what she stands for so much,” Jelly Roll wrote. “I’m honored she covered my song — I cried listening the first time.”

“Save Me” is just the latest in several popular covers Clarkson has shared through the “Kellyoke” segment of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Other recent covers have included Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire,” Miley Cyrus’s “Used to be Young,” U2’s “Mysterious Ways” and the Eagles’ Desperado.

Watch Clarkson’s full performance of “Save Me” below:

Best of Rolling Stone