{"id":7347,"date":"2026-01-23T21:03:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T21:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=7347"},"modified":"2026-01-23T21:03:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T21:03:48","slug":"im-not-judging-this-im-praising-god-what-happened-on-star-search-last-night-wasnt-planned-polished-or-designed-for-ratings-it-began-like-any","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=7347","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI\u2019m not judging this\u2026 I\u2019m praising God.\u201d – What happened on Star Search last night wasn\u2019t planned, polished, or designed for ratings. It began like any other episode \u2014 judges assessing vocals and control \u2014 until a contestant quietly announced their song choice: \u201cHard Fought Hallelujah.\u201d The room instantly shifted. For Jelly Roll, this wasn\u2019t just a performance. It was his life. A song he recorded with Brandon Lake, written out of addiction, survival, prayer, and nights when faith was the only thing left. As the first verse began, Jelly leaned forward and whispered, \u201cThis song came from the darkest place of my life.\u201d When the chorus hit, he stood up and raised his hands \u2014 not for applause, but in worship. The contestant sang on, shaking yet growing stronger, as Jelly closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face, hands lifted the entire time. \u201cI\u2019m not judging this,\u201d he said softly. \u201cI\u2019m praising God.\u201d The studio fell silent \u2014 no clapping, no phones, no interruption. For three minutes, Star Search stopped being a talent show and became something sacred. When the song ended, Jelly spoke through tears: \u201cYou didn\u2019t perform this song \u2014 you lived it.\u201d The contestant replied, \u201cI sang it for people who think God forgot them.\u201d Jelly nodded. \u201cHe didn\u2019t,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd neither did we.\u201d… WATCH VIDEO BELOW \ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jelly Roll Is A Judge On The\u00a0Star Search\u00a0<\/em>Reboot<\/h2>\n

\"Jelly<\/p>\n

\u201cHard Fought Hallelujah,\u201d the Grammy-nominated collaboration between\u00a0Jelly Roll\u00a0and\u00a0Brandon Lake, was featured during a powerful moment on the January 21st episode of\u00a0Star Search<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Alongside Chrissy Teigen and Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jelly Roll serves as a judge on the Netflix reboot of\u00a0Star Search<\/em>. The competition series originally ran from 1983 to 1995, and again from 2003 to 2004.<\/p>\n

22 years after its last episode aired,\u00a0Star Search<\/em>\u00a0returned with a new season premiere on January 20. The episode highlighted contestants in the\u00a0Junior Music, Dance, Variety, and Music Group categories.<\/p>\n

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\"Jelly<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Competitors in four additional categories performed on Wednesday night\u2019s (January 21) episode.<\/strong>\u00a0Each category featured a face-off between two performers to see who would earn the most stars and win the round.<\/p>\n

Star Search<\/em>\u00a0allows viewers to vote in real-time for their favorite contestants. Their votes, combined with the judges\u2019, calculate an average number of stars for each competitor.<\/p>\n

Star Search<\/em>\u00a0Contestant Bear Bailey\u2019s Soul-Stirring Performance Of \u201cHard Fought Hallelujah\u201d Takes Jelly Roll To Church<\/h2>\n