Jelly Roll, the rising country-rap sensation, recently reflected on one of the most unforgettable moments of his career—sharing the stage with his idol, Eminem. In a candid interview on The Howard Stern Show, the “Son of a Sinner” singer opened up about how the unexpected collaboration with the legendary rapper came to fruition.

It all began when Eminem’s manager approached Jelly Roll during one of his concerts in Detroit last year. Jelly, a self-confessed lifelong fan of Eminem, was floored by the encounter. “We’re all hanging out backstage, and I’m just like, ‘Hey, does Marshall even know who I am?’” Jelly recalled. To his amazement, the response was more than he could have imagined: “Yeah, that’s why I’m here, man. Marshall loves you. I wanna get y’all together.”

Months later, the opportunity of a lifetime came knocking. When Eminem’s team was planning his performance for NBC’s Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central special, they specifically requested Jelly Roll to perform the iconic Aerosmith “Dream On” sample in Em’s track “Sing for the Moment.” It was an offer too good to refuse. “They called back and was like, ‘Eminem wants to know if you would sing a song with him,’” Jelly shared with Stern. “I get goosebumps up my body. I was like, ‘Dude, I’m so in.’”

Despite his excitement, Jelly Roll admitted to feeling the weight of the moment. “I was so nervous,” he confessed. “It definitely wasn’t my best performance—you could see the nerves on my face.” The emotional connection he had to the song only heightened the pressure. “This song did a lot for me in dark moments of my life, too. I’m a lifelong fan. There’s not a white kid in the world who didn’t listen to Eminem rapping.”

Jelly Roll’s admiration for the rap icon was evident throughout the interview, as he hailed Eminem as the greatest in his craft. “There’s not enough praises for him,” Jelly said. “He’s inarguably the greatest rapper that ever lived, ever. You’re literally meeting the greatest at his craft.”

The collaboration marked a full-circle moment for Jelly Roll, a testament to his journey from fan to peer in the industry. And while the nerves may have been visible, the performance remains a career-defining moment for the country star who continues to break barriers between genres.