“We just went out and had fun,” James tells PEOPLE
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.
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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.”
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Jelly Roll and Kevin James.taylorteaguee/TikTok
James was among the stars attending a gala performance of Heathers the Musical to celebrate the show’s return to Broadway. It is being performed Off-Broadway at New World Stages through Sept. 28. The show is based on the 1989 cult film of the same name, and centers on high school student Veronica Sawyer, who suddenly becomes popular after she joins the Heathers. She soon meets the rebellious J.D., who shows her that popularity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
The Grown Ups star will be taking the stage himself, although not to dance. His stand-up comedy tour returns to the road in September and tickets are on sale at his website. He also stars in the upcoming action-packed movie Guns Up, out on July 18.
Jelly Roll is also on tour, with stops planned throughout the summer and fall. His most recent album, Beautifully Broken, was released in October 2024.
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