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Kevin James has to “get in shape” because of Jelly Roll.
James caught up with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show on Tuesday (January 27). The actor and comedian spoke about his experience playing the romantic lead in Solo Mio (premiering in theaters February 6), what he missed about the U.S. while filming in Italy and more. He also teased a project with Jelly Roll, and shared how the 2026 Grammy nominee is motivating him on his own health and fitness journey. Fallon asked, “what are you getting in shape for now?”
“Well, I have to get in shape because I’m doing a movie with Jelly Roll,” James said. “He lost, like, 300 pounds. Oh, he lost so much. And it’s literally like I’m finding everything he’s dropping, and I’m like, ‘if no one’s using this, I’m just going to stick it on me.’ So, I have to get in shape. We’re supposed to do a movie. It’s a real movie where it’s like, we’re in prison, and it’s like we’re in shape, and he’s committed to his side of the bargain.
“I got seven moths, which I joined a group of guys…these guys that I got in my life, really good guys, that are going to help me keep accountable. And we started January 1, and we’re going seven months. It’s called the Magnanimous Seven,” he continued. “We’re all doing…push-ups, and these things you got to do and everything like that. And the Dolce Diet is part of that. And it’s — I started and in seven months, I’m telling you right now, you will not recognize me. …Now I’m accountable because I’m going to come back on this show, like July Fourth or whatever it is around that area, and I’m going to be so different right now. But I’m going to be honest. We started January 1. I’m up seven already, so that — I’m in trouble. …It is a disaster right now. I didn’t the push ups, but I haven’t started the eating yet. I gotta get focused, man.”
Jelly Roll has lost hundreds of pounds after kicking off a health and fitness journey more than a year ago. He said on an episode of his wife’s podcast, Dumb Blonde, in December 2024 that he wanted to “be on the cover of Men’s Health by March of 2026.” Jelly Roll appeared on the publication’s cover at the beginning of this year, achieving an “unreal” goal. The soon-to-be Grand Ole Opry member said when he recently caught up with Extra that he feels like “a whole different human” now.
Jelly Roll is among the country artists nominated at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, returning this spring to Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. See the list of country artists nominated here.
Like in years past, iHeartRadio is letting the fans choose the winners in several new and established categories. Fan voting will determine this year’s Favorite Broadway Debut, Favorite TikTok Dance, Favorite Debut Album, Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Favorite On Screen, Favorite Tour Photographer, Favorite Soundtrack, Favorite Tour Style, Favorite Tour Tradition and Favorite K-pop Collab. Social voting begins on January 8th, and will close on March 19th at 11:59pm PT for all categories. Fans can vote by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Tune in to see which artists will take home an iHeartRadio Music Award on Thursday, March 26th at 8pm ET live (PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The show will also be broadcast on iHeartRadio stations across the country and on the iHeartRadio app.
Watch James’ full interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon here: