Jelly Roll Goes to San Quentin for New Video ‘Hands Up’

Six decades after Johnny Cash performed for inmates at San Quentin, Jelly Roll continues that legacy and visits the northern California prison for his new video “Hands Up.”

The singer, who has been open about his own time spent behind bars, called shooting the “Hands Up” video, “Truly one of the most special things I’ve ever had the opportunity to do.”

The singer reiterated, “These are not actors. This is not a movie set.”

“The moment my life truly changed is when I threw my hands up. I know a lot of folks will hear this and remember their ‘hands up’ moment as well and that is making this that much cooler for me,” Jelly Roll wrote on social media. “I remember being in the same kind of place all these incarcerated guys are in and what it took for me to finally throw my hands up, to get to do this with them is beyond words for me y’all.”

Jelly Roll joins an all-star list of artists — from Cash to Frank Sinatra to Metallica — to bring their art to the now-San Quentin Rehabilitation Center outside of San Francisco.