Jelly Roll serves up salvation at the sold-out Little Caesars Arena

Wednesday’s concert was part of the country star’s “Beautifully Broken” tour.

Detroit − Singer-preacher Jelly Roll offered an evening of spiritual healing during his sold-out concert Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena, offering to cleanse the approximately 16,000 fans in attendance with songs of faith and salvation.

It was the Grammy nominee’s biggest performance in Detroit to date, and his sixth appearance in the area in 15 months. The 39-year-old, born Jason DeFord, said it was his 30th concert in Detroit, and he checked off the list of area venues where he has performed — the Shelter, Saint Andrew’s Hall, Harpos, the Fillmore — before taking the location of Motor City. he most hopes to check off his list: “I hope one day we can come back and do it at Ford Field, honey,” he told the crowd at LCA. “That’s my dream, Detroit!”

He’s well on his way. His brand of country music incorporates aspects of rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop and church music, drawing from aspects of the Kid Rock playbook. He openly sings about his shortcomings and offers salvation to others who are going through hard times. And he welcomes everyone into his dysfunctional musical family and says everyone could use someone to lean on.

“Tonight will be a night of healing, tonight will be a night of therapy, tonight will be a night of love,” he said at the top of the show, after playing “I Am Not Okay” in front of a burning house. on a small stage at the back of the arena. “But most importantly in Detroit, I hope it’s the best show you’ve seen in your damn life!”

Jelly took the stage after walking through the crowd and clapping fans, accompanied by his wife Bunnie. He wore two thick, statement necklaces and a smile as wide as the stage.

He and his 12-piece band performed songs from his tenth studio album, last month’s Beautifully Broken, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. He said he paid tribute to Motown by playing Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” which is in no way Motown. But he made up for it by playing a trio of Bob Seger covers, with “Old Time Rock and Roll,” “Turn the Page” and “Against the Wind,” and was joined by his opener, Ernest, on the latter song . “Someone here, tell Bob Seger how much I love him!” he said, calling the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer his favorite artist.

Jelly also gave up on underground Detroit rap duo Twiztid, who he said were the first artists to take him on tour, and Twiztid performed a surprise song during a DJ set before Jelly Roll’s set. It was part of a night of hits that saw opener Shaboozey perform “A Bar Song (Tipsy”), the country’s current No. 1 single (fun fact: the song was also No. 1 when the concert was announced in July), and fellow opener Ernest record “I Had Some Help,” the former Morgan Wallen and Post Malone No. 1, on which he is one of eight credited songwriters.

This review is under development.