Jelly Roll's "Rise Up" Is the Official Theme Song of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Of all the artists the NHL could have chosen to soundtrack the most grueling stretch of hockey's season, they picked the man who spent years in prison, rebuilt his life from the ground up, and named his song "Rise Up."

That is not an accident.

Grammy Award-winning artist Jelly Roll has been named the official theme song provider for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His new Amazon Music Original track "Rise Up" is featured in game broadcasts, in-arena integrations, and across NHL social media and digital channels throughout the postseason.

A music video featuring Jelly Roll alongside the Stanley Cup and various NHL highlights debuted during Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. A documentary short on the making of the video - featuring Jelly Roll alongside NHL stars Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights and Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes - is set for release in June.

Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, did not hold back on what the song means. "This song was written for the guys grinding every night for the Cup," he said. "This isn't just the theme song of the NHL Playoffs. This is their song." 

NHL Content and Events President Steve Mayer said the partnership felt right from the start. "Jelly Roll doesn't just make music. He sets a tone, and it's exactly right for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Watching him experience the Stanley Cup for the first time was a special moment." 

For anyone who has followed Jelly Roll's story - the Grammy wins, the faith testimony, the donated trophy to the juvenile detention center where he once was incarcerated - "Rise Up" lands differently. This is an artist who has lived the message. He wrote about redemption before it was fashionable, and he has never stopped pointing to something bigger than himself as the reason he made it through.

A song called "Rise Up," chosen for the biggest trophy in hockey, by a man whose whole life is a second-chance story. The title fits on every level.

"Rise Up" is available to stream exclusively on Amazon Music. 

Related Article: Jelly Roll Drops "Lighter" Music Video as the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Begins