Jelly Roll hasn’t even stepped out publicly with his clean-shaven face yet, but the reactions are already rolling in—and this time, Shaboozey is weighing in.
The country star hit the 2025 CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday, November 19, where he ended up delivering one of the night’s most unexpected soundbites: a plea for his friend to reunite with his trademark beard.
When asked on the red carpet whether he’d gotten a glimpse of Jelly Roll’s new look, Shaboozey didn’t miss a beat. “I haven’t. They told me about it,” he told Entertainment Tonight, shaking his head as if trying to visualize it.
Then he offered the line that’s quickly becoming the moment’s standout quote: “I can’t even imagine him with the shaved face. I’m like, ‘It’s giving Snapchat filter, man.’”
From there, he aimed a direct message at the 40-year-old star. “We miss the beard, man,” he said with a laugh. “Come back soon. Grow that out.”
The sudden burst of commentary follows a viral moment earlier this month, when Jelly Roll’s wife, Bunnie Xo, revealed that the singer had shaved his beard for the first time in 10 years.
The decision wasn’t random—she explained that he’d gone bare-faced for a new photo shoot and that even she had never seen him without facial hair. “Not one freaking time,” she told fans in the November 13 Instagram post.
The clip showed Jelly Roll ducking in and out of frame as he trimmed everything down, experimenting with a handful of transition looks along the way. Bunnie narrated the process, reacting with a mix of shock and curiosity before finally seeing the end result.
“The total naked face, it’s not terrible,” she said, covering her mouth as she took in her husband’s jawline for the first time.
While the transformation has prompted plenty of speculation, Jelly Roll hasn’t shared the final reveal on his own social platforms yet. When fans asked why, Bunnie stepped in with a simple answer: “He will show y’all when he’s ready.”
Back at the CMAs, Shaboozey delivered one of the night’s most memorable performances, teaming up with Stephen Wilson Jr. for “Took a Walk.” He also scored a nomination for New Artist of the Year, ultimately losing to Zach Top.