Standing on stage at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, an unlikely country star with a unique rise to the top delivered one of the most inspirational speeches of 2023. Country artist Jelly Roll who has been named “New Artist of the Year” at the 2023 CMA awards, accepted his award with teary eyes and a message. 

“There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning ‘New Artist of the Year.’ I don’t know where you’re at in life, or what you’re going through, but I want to tell you to keep going. I want to tell you success is on the other side. I want to tell you it’s gonna be okay. I want to tell you that the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason because what’s in front of you is so much more important than what’s behind you,” Jelly Roll said as he accepted his award.