Jelly Roll Astounded as Eminem Samples ‘Save Me’ for ‘Death of Slim Shady’ Album, Calls Him ‘Childhood Hero

“I related to every word Eminem wrote. I understand him and felt like he understood me,” reflected Jelly Roll following the release of “Somebody Save Me”

For Jelly Roll, having a song with Eminem is a dream come true.

After the Grammy-winning rapper, 51, sampled Jelly’s hit “Save Me” for the closing track of his new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), the country star, 39, took to social media and expressed gratitude for the recognition from his “childhood hero.”

“I can’t believe I’m on Eminem’s album.” wrote Jelly in a July 12 post on X (formerly Twitter) following the release of “Somebody Save Me,” which features the chorus of “Save Me.”

Jelly Roll; Eminem.AYISHA COLLINS/FILMMAGIC, KURT KRIEGER/CORBIS VIA GETTY

He then shared a photo of himself posing alongside Eminem to Instagram with a heartfelt caption further detailing his longtime love for the rapper’s work. “I always say my childhood hero’s lived somewhere between Willie Nelson and Eminem,” wrote Jelly.

“As a teenager (and still today) I could recite every song on the Slim Shady album, the Marshall Mathers album and the Eminem show,” he added. “When I bonded out of jail at 17 years old and was sneaking into cyphers and battles in Nashville they would also play the ‘lose yourself’ beat when I came out on stage at the freestyle battles.”

“I related to every word Eminem wrote. I understand him and felt like he understood me, which was rare cause I spent most of my life feeling misunderstood,” continued Jelly. “So you can imagine how I felt when I got that the call that Eminem would be sampling my song ‘Save Me’ on his new album. And for him to use the song to discuss the other side of what could’ve happened if he would’ve allowed his demons to win brought me to tears.”

Jelly Roll in New York City on June 12, 2024. JASON KEMPIN/GETTY

The caption concluded, “If you haven’t heard it yet , check out ‘Somebody Save Me’ on Eminem’s new album ‘the death of slim shady’ […] special shout out to Paul Rosenberg , you’ve been nothing but kind to me and treated me like family and gave me opportunities I didn’t deserve, forever grateful.”

The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) was released on July 12, and the album also features guest appearances from White Gold, Sly Pyper, JID, Dem Jointz, Ez Mil, Skylar Grey, BabyTron and Big Sean.

Eminem performs in Detroit on June 6, 2024.AARON J. THORNTON/GETTY

Last month, Jelly and Eminem teamed up on stage at at the Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central event to perform “Sing for the Moment.” After the set, the “Need a Favor” singer reflected on the moment in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“When I think about coolest moments of my career, right now at the top, there has to be this thing that I got to go sing with Eminem in Detroit,” he said at the time, later adding that he felt “giddy, like a child” on stage.