Singer & songwriter, Jelly Roll has been making his mark in music publicly since 2008 as he explores multiple genres from Rap, Country, HipHop, and Rock. The CMT award winner has had a successful past few years, earning the title of 2023 Male Video of the Year and Digital-First Performance of the Year for his hit "Son of a Sinner". With his public and personal experience with drug abuse and incarceration, he's used music as a way to grow and come out the other side.
Jelly Roll | Key West Florida Weekly
Born & raised in Nashville Tennessee, Jason DeFord, stage named, Jelly Roll began releasing music in 2010 as a HipHop artist where he found creative freedom within expressing himself musically. His first public release "Kandy", in collaboration with Pimp C and later "Pop Another Pill" with Lil Wyte began sparking major conversation worldwide and thus his career began. Years later, he explored other genres of music within the realm of Rock to Country where he began finding himself through combining the two into some of the biggest hits of the year.
His upbringing and struggle that centered around drugs and alcohol abuse led him to spend over 10 years in and out of prison. He joined Billboard in a vulnerable interview where he discusses his experience within jail, his juvenile offenses, and the beauty that has come out from it. What truly had him hanging on while behind bars was Craig Morgan's "Almost Home", which he felt a connection to almost immediately. Following his release from prison, he headed to Morgan's next concert in town where he realized his next calling, which centered around making, releasing, and performing music live. The bond he felt that day to both the physical song and to the live performance, urged him to do the same. Live performing to Jelly Roll became a solitude and where he finally found peace through expressing himself therapeutically.
The acknowledgement and recognition of his past allows him to be an influential and positive influence today, specifically to those who have or may struggle with the same lifestyle. He is consistent to clear his name and separate himself from the person he once was, but finds it difficult to do so. Other's prejudices of his past lifestyle infringe on his life currently and despite the success he has had, many can't seem to look past it. He continued in his 2023 Billboard interview, "I just turned down a house because the community wouldn't let me be a part of the golf course because of my felonies. Can you imagine changing your life in such a way...my money was accepted but I wasn't".
Jelly Roll sets himself apart from other artist as his priority is to always remain vulnerable and tell his truth and the music is a direct reflection of that. He will continue to tell his story and make music in hopes of connecting and helping at least one individual. Remaining candid and standing for those who experienced the same trauma that he did at a young age has become a philanthropic part of his life, whether it's through music or charity.
Jelly Roll | Youtube | Billboard
His hit single "Son of a Sinner" from the 2021 album "Ballads Of The Broken" won multiple accolades, including three CMT awards in 2023. The track touches on our individual internal battles that we struggle with each day, including the human predicament of right from wrong. This personal song hits home for many and is a source of healing for the artist himself by speaking right from the heart.
Two singles from his latest album "Whitsitt Chapel" are sitting comfortably on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, including "Save Me", featuring Lainey Wilson and "Need A Favor". He described his latest work as "Real music for real people with real problems" as he dives into taboo & delicate topics that many shy away from. His decision to shift into the Country genre was a personal one from him as he rediscovers faith and grows as an individual. He always felt the pull into Rock as well as Country music and his artistry will continue to mimic where he currently is in life.
The success Jelly Roll has had within music and the growth in his own personal life is visibly admirable. He continues to reflect on who he once was and shine a light on it to not only move past his previous experiences but to remind those who may be struggling that there is another side, a better side. His music speaks volumes whether you're a country fan or not & he'll continue to be his authentic self despite the obstacles.
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