I Am Not Okay

"I Am Not Okay"
Single by Jelly Roll
from the album Beautifully Broken
ReleasedJune 12, 2024
RecordedSaxman, Nashville, Tennessee
GenreCountry
Length3:17
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Zach Crowell
Jelly Roll singles chronology
"All My Life"
(2024) 		"I Am Not Okay"
(2024) 		"Somebody Save Me"
(2024)

"I Am Not Okay" is a song by American singer Jelly Roll, released on June 12, 2024, as the lead single from his tenth studio album, Beautifully Broken. It was written by Jelly Roll, Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley, and Casey Brown, and produced by Zach Crowell.

Background

Jelly Roll debuted the song at the season 25 finale of The Voice on May 21, 2024.[1] He also performed it at the CMA Fest on June 8, 2024,[2] prior to releasing the song, and again during the In Memoriam segment at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. When announcing the release on Instagram, he wrote the song is "for everyone going through something".[3]

Composition and lyrics

Jelly Roll wrote "I Am Not Okay" with Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley, and Casey Brown, while on tour in North Carolina in October 2023.[4] After witnessing the crowd's emotional reaction, Phillips remarked that attending Jelly Roll's concert was akin to going to church, while prompted Jelly Roll to say that he was making it "OK for people not to be OK", which inspired the song's hook.[4] Gorley noted that he had hoped to develop a song about depression, spurred in part by Phillips' annual benefits to honor his friend, Brian Kindle, who died by suicide.[4]

Produced by Zach Crowell at Saxman Studios,[4] the instrumental starts with the plucking of acoustic guitar during the opening verse,[5][6] before being joined by drums, synthesizers[5] and orchestra.[5][7] Lyrically, Jelly Roll revolves around his emotional pain and struggles with mental health,[8] mentioning having sleepless nights, voices in his head,[9] good and bad days,[6][7] and not wanting to be out of bed.[7] In the chorus, he acknowledges there are others in a similar position and encourages hope: "I know I can't be the only one / Who's holding on for dear life / But God knows, I know / When it's all said and done / I'm not okay / But it's all gonna be alright / It's not okay / But we're all gonna be alright".[6][8][9][10]

Charts

Chart performance for "I Am Not Okay"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 29
Canada Country (Billboard)[12] 1
Global 200 (Billboard)[13] 98
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 14
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15] 24
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[16] 8
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[17] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[18] 3
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[19] 18

Certifications

Certifications for "I Am Not Okay"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Platinum 80,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Jelly Roll Performs "I Am Not Ok" | The Voice Finale | NBC". YouTube. May 21, 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Jelly Roll | I Am Not OK". YouTube. June 9, 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  3. ^ ""I Am Not Okay" is out now. For everyone going through something—it's okay to not be okay, but its all gonna be alright!". Instagram. June 12, 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Blistein, Jon (June 12, 2024). "Jelly Roll Searches for Serenity During Tough Times on 'I Am Not Okay'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Partridge, Ken (June 13, 2024). "Jelly Roll Clings To Hope On New Song "I Am Not Okay"". Genius. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Jelly Roll Releases Powerful New Single 'I Am Not Okay'". Entertainment Tonight. June 12, 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  8. ^ a b Nicholson, Jessica (June 12, 2024). "Jelly Roll Unveils Emotional New Single 'I Am Not Okay': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (June 14, 2024). "Jelly Roll's Anthem of Perseverance, and 9 More New Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  10. ^ Crabtree, Mary Claire (June 12, 2024). "Jelly Roll Releases Powerful New Single, "I Am Not Okay"". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  15. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  16. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  17. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Jelly Roll – I Am Not Okay". Music Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2024.