Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll team up with rock icons for an all star music project

Bon Jovi is reworking its 2024 album Forever into a star-studded “Legendary Edition” that brings country and rock names together.

This new edition reshapes almost the entire record by adding guest performances from a wide range of artists. Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll are among the country artists who appear on the retooled tracks. The record also features established rock and pop figures, creating unexpected sonic pairings.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is Forever (Legendary Edition)?

It’s an expanded, guest-filled version of Bon Jovi’s 2024 album Forever.

The band revisited the original release and rebuilt many songs with featured artists contributing vocals, harmonies, or instrumental flourishes. Most tracks on the original record were reimagined, and the Legendary Edition adds at least one brand-new song to the lineup.

The result is meant to feel both familiar and refreshed, offering longtime fans a new way to hear the band’s recent work.

Who’s on the guest list?

The guest list reads like a who’s who of rock, pop, and roots artists.

Big names reported to appear include Bruce Springsteen, Avril Lavigne, Jason Isbell, Marcus King, The War and Treaty, James Bay, and other notable performers.

Country representation is strong thanks to Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll joining the fold, which gives the album crossover appeal. This edition turns a solo band statement into a communal project.

Lainey Wilson’s role

Lainey Wilson joins Bon Jovi on the song “I Wrote You a Song.”

Her presence brings a contemporary country voice into a classic rock setting, helping bridge genre audiences. Wilson’s vocals are intended to add warmth and a narrative edge to the track, creating a duet-style dynamic with the band’s lead voice.

Fans of Wilson should find familiar cadence and phrasing threaded into the arrangement.

Jelly Roll’s contribution

Jelly Roll appears on the track “Living Proof.”

Known for blending country, rock, and hip-hop influences in his own work, he brings grit and emotional immediacy to the song. His feature adds a different texture and offers a contrast to Bon Jovi’s trademark melodies.

The collaboration highlights how artists from different scenes can reshape a song’s emotional arc.

Other standout pairings

Several tracks pair Bon Jovi with artists who shift the songs’ moods in surprising ways.

For example, Marcus King is reported to appear on a guitar-heavy rework of “My First Guitar,” while Jason Isbell lends a rootsy sensibility to another track. Bruce Springsteen’s involvement adds a high-profile rock gravitas to a revisited tune.

These pairings intentionally spotlight each guest artist’s strengths.

Why did the band do this now

The Legendary Edition grew out of a period when frontman Jon Bon Jovi could not tour and doubled down on studio work instead.

Following vocal-health issues, the band focused on creative studio projects and reached out to friends and collaborators. Reimagining the album was both a practical way to keep momentum and an artistic choice to explore alternate takes. The new edition lets the songs breathe differently and reaches listeners who might not have engaged with the original release.

Release timing and rollout

The Legendary Edition is slated to arrive in late October 2025, with preorders available now.

Ahead of the full release, a couple of tracks were previewed or released to give fans a taste of what’s coming. One brand-new song was added to the collection, expanding the record beyond simple remixes or guest spots.

The band’s rollout strategy leans on both surprise guests and staggered track releases to sustain interest.

How the songs change

Expect structural tweaks, new vocal parts, and small arrangement shifts rather than wholesale genre swaps.

Most of the original songs retain their melodies but gain new color from guest voices and instrumental flourishes. Country artists add twang and storytelling phrasing, while rock guests amplify grit or guitar textures. These changes aim to preserve the songs’ core while offering fresh emotional or sonic perspectives.

What fans are saying

Reaction so far leans toward curiosity and optimism from both country and rock audiences.

Many listeners welcome the idea of cross-pollination, where artists lift each other’s work instead of competing with it. Some fans are especially excited to hear how country voices sit next to classic Bon Jovi choruses. Overall, the project feels like a celebration rather than a reinvention.

What this means for crossover trends

This release is another example of genre lines continuing to blur in mainstream music.

Collaborations between country and rock acts have become more common as streaming and playlist culture favor variety. High-profile pairings can introduce artists to new audiences and create streaming spikes across catalogs.

The Legendary Edition is both a creative gambit and a strategic move in today’s collaborative music economy.

Final thoughts

The Legendary Edition turns a solo album into a shared moment, and Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll are key parts of that shift.

Their features give the record a modern country edge while the broader guest list ensures the project remains rooted in rock tradition. For fans who loved the original Forever, this is a chance to re-experience these songs with fresh ears. For new listeners, it’s a gateway that mixes familiar names and unexpected pairings.

TL;DR

• Bon Jovi is releasing Forever (Legendary Edition), a guest-filled reworking of the 2024 album.
• Lainey Wilson appears on “I Wrote You a Song”; Jelly Roll appears on “Living Proof.”
• Other collaborators include Bruce Springsteen, Avril Lavigne, Jason Isbell, Marcus King, The War and Treaty, and more.
• The project was developed during a period when touring was limited and the band focused on studio creativity.
• The Legendary Edition adds at least one new song, and previews were released ahead of the full album.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.