Country music singer Jay Allen is recovering from being the victim of armed robbery at a Nashville grocery store.
The musician detailed the encounter on his Instagram Saturday, Nov. 2.
“I’m ok (besides being out a few bucks), but it was the feeling that I couldn’t get over. Even with having a muscular stature and being covered in tattoos, it didn’t matter… he had a gun, and I didn’t,” Allen wrote. “I felt helpless, taken advantage of, and mad at myself more than anything.”
Despite being “on the fence about guns,” the incident prompted Allen to buy a gun for his own safety.
The musician posted a picture of him with the new gun as well as video of him testing it out at a shooting range.
“Thank you to my best bud (who is also a Veteran) for taking the time to train me, so I can now safely protect myself,” Allen wrote.
The musician released his debut album “Des Moines” in June. The country singer gained national attention when he competed on NBC’s popular singing competition “The Voice” in 2022.
During his Blind Audition, Allen got chair turns from Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, ultimately joining the latter‘s team. He was later eliminated after getting edged out by Worcester’s Cara Brindisi in the Battle Round.
Outside of music, Allen is heavily involved in philanthropy and has raised more than $160 million in support of those fighting Alzheimer‘s following his mother‘s death from the disease in 2019, according to the singer’s website.
