Whitsitt Chapel

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. 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" and "Save Me" with Wilson. The songs "She" and "Unlive" were also released prior to the album.

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". He named it after a chapel in Antioch, Tennessee, he formerly attended, which influenced the album and its themes of "sin and redemption".

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

Critical reception

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". 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.

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." Billy Dukes of Taste of Country described it as "an album for the outcast within each of us" without any filler tracks.

Track listing

Personnel

Musicians

• Jelly Roll – vocals
• Jarrod Brown – additional vocals (1–3, 5, 13)
• Sol Philcox-Littlefield – bass guitar (1–3, 5, 6, 12, 13), electric guitar (1, 3, 7–9), acoustic guitar (3, 6–9, 12)
• Grady Saxman – drums (1–3, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13), percussion (5)
• Nathan Keeterle – electric guitar (1–7, 9, 12, 13), acoustic guitar (4, 5), slide guitar (4)
• Zach Crowell – keyboards, programming (1–3, 5–8, 12, 13); backing vocals (5)
• Jesse Frasure – programming (1, 3), backing vocals (1)
• David Garcia – acoustic guitar (2)
• Ben Caver – backing vocals (2, 7)
• Andrew Baylis – electric guitar (4, 8), acoustic guitar (8)
• Miranda Lambert – backing vocals (3)
• Brock Berryhill – bass guitar (4)
• Miles McPherson – drums (4)
• Brantley Gilbert – vocals (4)
• Struggle Jennings – vocals (4)
• Devin Malone – acoustic guitar (6, 12), bass guitar (9), electric guitar (12)
• Hillary Lindsey – backing vocals (6)
• Madeline Merlo – backing vocals (7)
• DJ Chill – programming (8)
• Yelawolf – vocals (8)
• David Ray Stevens – acoustic guitar, backing vocals (9)
• Robyn Raynelle – backing vocals (9)
• Stu Stapleton – piano (9)
• Lainey Wilson – vocals (9)
• Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – backing vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards (10)
• Randall Cooke – drums (10)
• David Mills – steel guitar (10)
• Austin Nivarel – acoustic guitar, background vocals, electric guitar (11)
• Ilya Toshinskiy – acoustic guitar (11)
• Tim Marks – bass guitar (11)
• Shannon Sanders – choir arrangement (11)
• Fisk Jubilee Singers – choir (11)
• Nir Z – drums (11)
• Derek Wells – electric guitar (11)
• Stuart Duncan – fiddle (11)
• Alex Wright – keyboards (11)
• Justin Schipper – steel guitar (11)
• Hunter Phelps – backing vocals (12, 13)
• Scotty Sanders – Dobro, pedal steel guitar (13)

Technical

• Joe LaPorta – mastering
• Jim Cooley – mixing (1–9, 12, 13)
• Jeff Braun – mixing (10, 11)
• Aidan Thompson – engineering (1–3, 5–9, 12, 13)
• Seth Morton – engineering (11)
• Grady Saxman – recording (1–3, 5–9, 12, 13)
• Andrew Baylis – recording (4)
• Brock Berryhill – recording (4)
• Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft – recording (10)
• Austin Nivarel – recording, editing (11)
• Justin Francis – recording (11)
• Zach Crowell – additional recording (1–3, 5–9, 12, 13)
• Zach Kuhlman – mixing assistance (1–9, 12, 13), recording assistance (11)
• Eric Arjes – mixing assistance (10)
• Steve Cordray – recording assistance (11)

Charts

Certifications

Notes