Kevin James Explains How His Performance with Jelly Roll Came to Be: ‘He’s a Wonderful Human Being’ (Exclusive)

“We just went out and had fun,” James tells PEOPLE

Updated on July 1, 2025 12:32PM EDT

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Kevin James tells PEOPLE he and Jelly Roll are friends and calls the country star a “wonderful human being”
The two stars performed together in Ohio earlier this month when Jelly Roll brought him onstage
James joined Jelly Roll for “Need a Favor” at the Buckeye Country Superfest

Kevin James’ hilarious performance with Jelly Roll was a case of “right place at the right time.”

During an event to celebrate the return of Heathers the Musical to the stage on Monday, June 30, in New York City, PEOPLE asked the King of Queens star, 60, how his viral performance with Jelly Roll in Columbus, Ohio, came to be.

“I’m a good friend of his,” James tells PEOPLE, later adding that the country superstar, 40, is a “great friend of mine” and a “wonderful human being.”

“We just happened to be in Columbus together and we just went out and had fun,” James tells PEOPLE.

Back on June 21, Jelly Roll brought James out to the Buckeye Country Superfest to join him onstage for “Need a Favor.” The two stars looked alike, even dressing in head-to-toe black as James showed off his dance moves.

The video could serve as James’ Broadway audition, as he tells PEOPLE the only way he’d star in a Broadway show is if it involved dancing.

Kevin James join Jelly Roll on stage at the Buckeye Country Superfest — Jelly Roll and Kevin James.taylorteaguee/TikTok

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“I was born to dance, so if there’s a dancing show, then I would be interested in,” James says. “Other than that, I can’t be bothered. It’s got to be full dance.”