When Marcus King and Jelly Roll Sang “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” the Last Few Minutes of Stand Up to Cancer Burst Into Sound Like a Wave. The Crowd Roared as Though They Knew Something Significant Was Going to Happen When Jelly Roll Asked Nashville if They Might “Go to Church Tonight.” Then King Took the Stage, and the Audience Fell Silent, Hanging on Every Word Before Erupting Into Rapturous Applause. The Energy Was Palpable — Those in the Front Row Were Visibly Moved, and the Stars Backstage Couldn’t Stop Reacting.

Jelly Roll and Marcus King brought the house down, and took fans to church, with a soaring performance of “Hard Fought Hallelujah” to close out the ninth televised Stand Up To Cancer fundraising special.

The genre-bending superstar, dressed in a dark gray Stand Up To Cancer shirt layered with a brown shacket, stood alongside King on the stage at The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee, and belted out the lyrics to the track, which normally features Brandon Lake.

“What’s up Nashville? One night, one goal baby, if you’re watching at home… donate, donate, donate, and I don’t know about y’all, but I still believe in the power of praise. Can we goto church tonight, y’all?” the 40-year-old singer/songwriter stated, introducing the performance alongside a choir who joined him and King on stage.

Marcus King, Jelly Roll; Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Stand Up To Cancer

Jelly Roll kicked off the performance by taking on the first verse of the song.

“Yeah, I don’t always feel it/ Yeah, but that’s when I need it the most/ So I’ma keep on singing/ ‘Til my soul catches up with my song/ There’s time when my hands go up freely/ Times that it costs, uh-uh/ There’s days when a praise comes out easy/ Days when it takes all the strength I got,” Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, delivered on the first verse before going into the chorus.

Marcus King, who wore a royal blue suit and a tan cowboy hat, took on the second verse of the track.

“I’ve wrestled with the darkness/ But I’m trying to reach for the light/ Yeah, the struggle keeps me honest/ And it breaks down the walls of my pride/ ‘Cause faith isn’t proven like gold/ ‘Til it’s been through the fire, ay, ay/ My head, heart, and hands are feeling heavy/ That’s when I lift them just a little higher,” King sang.

The pair of hitmakers then joined forces to sing the chorus and harmonize flawlessly.

Hosted by GRAMMY Award-winning country superstar Sheryl Crow, the Stand Up To Cancer fundraising special also featured performances from Crow, the Jonas Brothers, Noah Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw, Marcus King, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi, Jelly Roll, Dan + Shay and CeCe Winans, joined by Nashville Community Gospel Choir.

The Stand Up To Cancer telecast, airing for the first time ever from The Pinnacle in Nashville, also included appearances from special guests such as Kevin Bacon, Jamie Foxx, Tim McGraw, Zoe Saldaña, Reese Witherspoon, Keith Urban, SU2C co-founder Katie Couric and more.

Throughout the telecast, viewers also heard from top SU2C-funded researchers about recent breakthroughs and the importance of ongoing support in the fight against cancer. From early detection to innovative treatments, survivor stories showcased the real-world impact of SU2C’s work and the hope it brought to patients and families.

Jelly Roll; Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Stand Up To Cancer

Jon Pardi, Jelly Roll, Noah Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw and Marcus King; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Stand Up To Cancer

Donate today to help fund cancer research aimed at finding cures. Your contribution supports Stand Up To Cancer and its collaborative research programs. You can donate by calling 1-800-90-STAND or online by visiting StandUpToCancer.org.

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Fans Worry That Anything Is Wrong With Jelly Roll as Bunnie Xo Breaks Her Silence With a Cryptic Confession. Fans Are in Shock Over Her Most Recent Admission, Which Was Made During the Couple’s Ongoing IVF Process. The Words Were Few, but Heavy — Sparking Whispers of Tension Behind the Smiles and Stadium Lights. Supporters Are Dissecting Every Phrase, Wondering if the Weight of Their Private Battle Is Beginning to Seep Into Their Marriage. For a Duo Once Seen as Unshakable, the Silence Between the Lines Might Be the Loudest Thing Yet.

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