Whitsitt Chapel

Last updated

Whitsitt Chapel
Jelly Roll - Whitsitt Chapel.png
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 2, 2023 (2023-06-02)
Genre
Length43:26
Label
  • Bailee & Buddy
  • BBR
Producer
Jelly Roll chronology
Ballads of the Broken
(2021)
Whitsitt Chapel
(2023)
Beautifully Broken
(2024)
Singles from Whitsitt Chapel
  1. "Need a Favor"
    Released: December 9, 2022
  2. "Save Me"
    Released: May 11, 2023 [1]
  3. "Halfway to Hell"
    Released: January 22, 2024 [2]

Whitsitt Chapel is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jelly Roll, released on June 2, 2023, through Bailee & Buddy and BBR Music Group. [3] It is his first country music album and includes collaborations with Brantley Gilbert, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf and Lainey Wilson. It was preceded by the singles "Need a Favor" [4] and "Save Me" with Wilson. [1] The songs "She" and "Unlive" were also released prior to the album. [5] [6]

Contents

Background

Jelly Roll described the album as "Real music for real people with real problems" and "about growth and gratitude happening in my life", stating that he wanted to "create a project that felt hopeful". [4] He named it after a chapel in Antioch, Tennessee he formerly attended, which influenced the album and its themes of "sin and redemption". [7]

The songs "She" and "Unlive" with Yelawolf were released prior to the album on November 30, 2022, [5] and April 14, 2023, respectively. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Entertainment FocusStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [9]
Holler Country6.5/10 [10]
Rock 'n' Load Mag10/10 [11]

James Daykin of Entertainment Focus felt that "one listen will be enough to convince you of this artist's unique perspective and original contribution to the genre" of country music, calling it "a raw, honest and powerful listen". [9] Ed Ford of Rock 'n' Load Mag complimented Jelly Roll's "gravelly vocal over smooth instrumentals", opining that listeners "will be captivated by the storytelling" that "will last throughout the entire album". Ford also felt that Whitsitt Chapel "genuinely has everything and most importantly it grips you and doesn't let go", calling it the best "all-round" album he has heard in 2023. [11]

Lesley Janes of The Nash News wrote that Jelly Roll "embodies diverse styles of music but is able to create one of the more cohesive albums of the year. His desire to make a record of songs that sinners can relate to has paid off. Jelly Roll is on to something, and everyone should take notice." [12] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country described it as "an album for the outcast within each of us" without any filler tracks. [7]

Track listing

Whitsitt Chapel track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Halfway to Hell"
2:58
2."Church"
  • Crowell
  • Garcia
3:40
3."The Lost"
  • Frasure
  • Crowell
3:19
4."Behind Bars" (with Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings)
  • DeFord
  • Brantley Gilbert
  • Michael Whitworth
  • Andrew Baylis
  • Brock Berryhill
  • Austin Nivarel
  • Baylis
  • Berryhill
2:57
5."Nail Me"
  • DeFord
  • Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft
  • Nivarel
Crowell2:41
6."Hold on Me"
Crowell3:36
7."Kill a Man"
  • DeFord
  • Riley Thomas
  • Baylis
  • Whitworth
Crowell3:04
8."Unlive" (with Yelawolf)Crowell3:57
9."Save Me" (with Lainey Wilson)
  • DeFord
  • David Ray Stevens
  • Crowell
  • Stevens
3:57
10."She"
  • DeFord
  • Nivarel
  • Gruft
Gruft2:53
11."Need a Favor"
  • DeFord
  • Nivarel
  • Joe Ragosta
  • Rob Ragosta
Nivarel3:17
12."Dancing with the Devil"
  • DeFord
  • Hunter Phelps
  • Crowell
Crowell3:37
13."Hungover in a Church Pew"
  • DeFord
  • Phelps
  • Crowell
Crowell3:30
Total length:43:26

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [29] Platinum1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. The Fisk Jubilee Singers consist of vocalists Shannon Sanders, Cristina Rae' Fentress, Eren Brooks, Evan Acklin, Jordan Holland, Kim Fleming, MarQo Patton, Trinity Hervey, Victoria Sanders, and Zoe Frazier.

References

  1. 1 2 "US: Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson team up on revamped single, 'Save Me'". BMG Rights Management . May 11, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  2. "Country Aircheck" (PDF). December 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2023.
  3. Newman, Miranda (June 1, 2023). "From Prison to No. 1: Nashville Rising Star Jelly Roll Proves That 'Losers Can Win'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Konicki, Lisa (June 2, 2023). "Jelly Roll Shares Insight Into Debut Country Album, Whitsitt Chapel". American Songwriter . Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Iahn, Buddy (November 30, 2022). "Jelly Roll releases 'She'". The Music Universe. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Mower, Maxim (April 15, 2023). "Jelly Roll Recruits Yelawolf for Anthemic New Song, 'Unlive'". Holler. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Dukes, Billy (June 2, 2023). "Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel – 13 Songs, 22 Easter Eggs (Review)". Taste of Country . Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  8. "Whitsitt Chapel - Jelly Roll - Album - AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Daykin, James (June 1, 2023). "Jelly Roll – Whitsitt Chapel album review". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  10. Smith, Holly (July 9, 2025). "Jelly Roll 'Whitsitt Chapel' Album Review & Tracklist - Holler". Holler Country. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Ford, Ed (June 2023). "Jelly Roll // Whitsitt Chapel // Album Review". Rock 'n' Load Mag. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  12. Janes, Lesley (June 2, 2023). "Jelly Roll Whitsitt Chapel Album Review". The Nash News. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  13. "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  14. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 12 June 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1736. Australian Recording Industry Association. June 12, 2023. p. 25.
  15. "Jelly Roll Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  16. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  17. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  18. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  19. "Jelly Roll Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  20. "Jelly Roll Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  21. "Jelly Roll Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  22. "Jelly Roll Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  23. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  24. "Independent Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  25. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  26. "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  27. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2024". Billboard . Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  28. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2024". Billboard . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  29. "American album certifications – Jelly Roll – Whitsitt Chapel". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2025.