An unconventional country music star will serve as “American Idol’s” first-ever artist in residence when the show launches its newest season next month.

Variety broke the news Tuesday that Jelly Roll will play a special role in the upcoming season. According to the Variety report, ABC says the singer will be “a permanent fixture this season and will work closely with the Idol hopefuls, giving them firsthand advice on how to navigate their journey.”

It won’t be the star’s first appearance at this particular rodeo. In an episode last season, he mentored three Alabama singers who’d made it to Hawaii with the Top 24. He praised Mia Matthews and KBlocks but saved his highest praise for Triston Harper, seeing in him a potential winner.

Alabama was unusually well-represented in the 2024 season of “Idol,” possibly because the show held auditions in Lionel Richie’s hometown of Tuskegee. Eight home-grown contenders made it onto the show. Out of them, Matthews and Harper made it into the Top 10 and Harper was cut as the Top 5 was reduced to the Top 3.

Jelly Roll (real name Jason DeFored) entered mainstream country music with an unusual backstory – including years as a hip-hop artist and a substantial criminal record – accentuated by a look that includes facial tattoos. But his 2023 album “Whitsitt Chapel” put him at No. 3 on Billboard’s pop album chart and No. 2 on the overall pop chart, and 2024’s “Beautifully Broken” topped both.

In the recent Grammy Awards, he was a nominee in three categories, including best country solo performance and best country song for “I Am Not Okay.”

“American Idol” will air a preview of its new season March 2 on ABC after the Oscars telecast. The season premieres March 9. Veteran judges Richie and Luke Bryan will be joined by Carrie Underwood, taking the spot previously held by Katy Perry.