Viewers left in awe by Jelly Roll and Kelly Clarkson’s moving I Am Not Okay performance

Jelly Roll and Kelly Clarkson join forces to perform his popular track, “I Am Not Okay,” in a special segment…

Jelly Roll, Kelly Clarkson; Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/NBCUniversal

Jelly Roll and Kelly Clarkson collaborate to perform his hit track, “I Am Not Okay,” in a special segment of The Kelly Clarkson Show called “Kellyoke.”

Supporters initially caught a preview of the performance when a behind-the-scenes sound check video was posted on the show’s social media channels.

The duo, affectionately nicknamed “Kelly and Jelly,” embraced as they reunited on the intimate stage and then reflected on their initial encounter at a previous GRAMMYs event.

They returned to work, planning how to approach the duet, determining the placement of harmonies, and deciding when Clarkson would showcase her amazing vocals to deliver the lyrics powerfully.

Jelly Roll seemed incredibly joyful and excited as she watched Clarkson reinterpret his song in a fresh way, matching his energy while expressing her admiration for the powerful track. Written by the Antioch, TN native alongside Ashley Gorley, Casey Brown, and Taylor Phillips, “I Am Not Okay” vividly portrays someone acknowledging their mental health struggles yet maintaining a flicker of hope that things will ultimately improve. The track is featured on his latest album, Beautifully Broken.

“This song is so good. I’m so excited he’s allowing me to sing on his song, ‘I Am Not Okay’ and it’s so good,” Clarkson shared before adding, “I’m just a huge fan. I love authenticity and I love real messages. I. think that real s**t really matters.”

“I would’ve never believed you if you would’ve told me that I’d write a song so impactful that incredible Kelly Clarkson would deem it worthy to cover,” he wrote on X. “Thank you Kelly- wow – I’m honored in a way I can’t even describe – I cried watching it.”