SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Country singer Jelly Roll has been playing sold-out shows across the U.S. as part of his “Beautifully Broken” tour. But earlier this week, his performance venue wasn’t a huge arena: It was the Oregon State Penitentiary.

The award-winning artist posted a video and photos on Instagram from his visit to Salem Prison, showing him singing a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and signing autographs for those incarcerated there.

According to Jelly Roll, it was the first live music in the prison yard in 20 years.

“I firmly believe that when we commit crimes we should serve our time and be held accountable for our actions, but I also believe that every person deserves love, no matter how bad the decision they made,” the 39-year-old wrote on Instagram.

Jelly Roll, who was in prison as a youth, said he wrote his first song behind bars.

“It never feels better than to come back behind a wall and sing a song for all of you,” he told the crowd.

His lyrics often address his difficult past and addiction issues, and in his prison video, a man talks about how Jelly Roll’s music changed his life.

“I heard ‘Save Me’ on the radio and got clean that same day,” the man said, referring to a song on Jelly Roll’s latest album.

Jelly Roll, real name Jason DeFord, began his musical career as a rapper before becoming an acclaimed country artist. In 2023, he was named New Artist of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.

“I remember being in a dark place and no one came and gave us hope to change our path in life,” he said. “It felt so good to bring a little light to such a dark place.”