One of the things still weighing Jelly Roll down after a checkered past is his criminal record, and the negative impact it’s had on his ability to tour. It’s only recently that things started to loosen up a bit, with Jelly excitedly announcing back in May that he was finally allowed to play outside of the US. Yesterday, it was announced that the singer would be bringing his music to a third continent. The brand new Strummingbird festival will hit three locations in Australia across late October and early November, hitting the Sunshine Coast, Newcastle and Perth. Headlining the festival: Jelly Roll and another artist appearing Down Under for the first time, Shaboozey. The lineup will also include fellow American acts Treaty Oak Revival, Drew Baldridge, Julia Cole and The Jack Wharff Band. Representing their home country will be James Johnston, Wade Forster, Kaylee Bell, Matt Hansen, The Dreggs and others. See the festival dates below. 

Jelly Roll‘s weight-loss quest has been a source of fascination (and inspiration) for many; it’s rare you see someone as famous as he is take the journey he has so publicly. As the singer readies for his wrestling match at the upcoming SummerSlam event, he sat down with Stephanie McMahon for her “What’s Your Story?” podcast and made a stunning revelation. “I got fat like really, really young. I was over 300 pounds coming out of middle school. I am going to be under 300 pounds for the first time since middle school, the night I walk to that ring at SummerSlam.” With that goal within reach (SummerSlam is this coming weekend), what’s next for Jelly? He’d already shared that he wanted to be on the cover of “Men’s Health” next year, but now he has a new goal: “I want to do a shirt off cover in ’27.” He admits he’s nowhere near that point, but with the amazing progress he’s already made (over 200 pounds down in two years), never count the (not quite as) big man out.

Farm Aid 40, the concert to assist American farmers, has announced that country stars Kenny Chesney, Wynonna and Steve Earle would be joining the growing list of performers for the upcoming day-long benefit. This year’s concert will be held at Huntington Rock Stadium in Minneapolis on September 20th. Chesney’s Farm Aid appearances generally coincided with the concert’s big anniversaries; of his three previous Farm Aid performances, two (2005 and 2010) were for the 20th and 25th anniversaries, respectively (his third was in 2006). This will be Earle’s ninth Farm Aid performance, and Wynonna’s first. Other artists scheduled to appear include Willie Nelson, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards and Wisdom Indian Dancers.

Earlier this month, we told you that George Strait was organizing a benefit for Texas flood victims called “Strait From The Heart.” Sunday night, the all-star concert brought in big names and, more importantly, big bucks. With appearances by Strait, William Beckmann, Ray Benson, Wade Bowen, Dean Dillon, Riley Green, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Kyle Park and Hudson Westbrook, the event was a massive success, bringing in $6.25-million. It most likely would have been a home run anyway, but it certainly didn’t hurt that Garth Brooks made a surprise appearance. Garth performed his hits “(Much Too Young) To Feel This Damn Old” and “The Dance,” to help make the evening a huge success.

Chris Stapleton just premiered a new song, but you won’t find it on any of his albums…at least not yet. The singer was a special guest star on “Sesame Street” recently, where he sang for the Muppets that live there and the kids watching at home. In the episode, Stapleton tells kids that “music is the universal language.” Abby Cadabby says, “He’s teaching us all about music and friends,” to which the singer responds, “That’s right, Abby,” before breaking into “You’ve Got a Friend in Music,” joined by Abby, Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie.