The 39-year-old country-styled US musician said he found "solace" during his time in "Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous" meetings - experiences that helped inspire his song I Am Not Okay, from new album Beautifully Broken.
"Oh goodness - I don't fully remember my first real meeting because I was court-ordered at like 14 so I don't remember it as much as I should," he told host Ania Hammar during SiriusXM's The Highway show.
"I definitely remember the first time that I found solace in those rooms, or the first time that I kind of got introduced to the concept of this, and how much stuff I've taken from them rooms."
Jelly Roll says attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings helped inspire his song I Am Not Okay. (AP PHOTO)
He said he had "never been more inspired than leaving an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or a Narcotics Anonymous meeting".
"I think everybody should experience one if you've never drank in your life," he said.
"I still think that there is something from it that is, you know, the good ones are like good theatre.
"They'll make you listen, you'll learn, you'll laugh and you'll cry."
The musician also revealed he has changed how he approaches the release of music and only wants to share songs "that have a purpose".
"I'm looking for songs that have a purpose," he said.
"When I go to put out a song under the name Jelly Roll, I think to myself, 'why?'.
"Because for the first time in my life, it has nothing to do with a financial decision.
"I'm well past putting out anything for money, so now it really is a why."
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