Country singer Jelly Roll hasn’t forgotten his roots or the people from his past. In a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, he shared candid insights about his journey from incarceration to becoming a father, and how these experiences have shaped his life and music career.
A Troubled Past
The two-time GRAMMY-nominated singer, known for his openness about his troubled past, spoke with guest hosts Martin Short and Jane Lynch about his time in juvenile detention. Describing his incarceration as a result of “horrible decisions,” Jelly Roll revealed he was caught in a cycle of incarceration for nearly a decade.
A Life-Changing Moment
Jelly Roll shared a pivotal moment that changed his life forever: learning about his daughter’s birth while he was in jail. He compared this profound experience to the biblical story of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. “I ended up in kind of that rotating door of the system for like a decade, and I had a daughter, and it changed my entire life, man,” he said.
Staying Connected to His Roots
Despite his success, Jelly Roll has not lost touch with his past or the people from his old neighborhood in Antioch, Tennessee. He humorously noted that he still receives calls from jail, mentioning that inmates now have access to iPads. “Oh yeah, I still got so many friends from my old neighborhood Antioch, Tennessee. I still collect calls from jail all the time. They got iPads in there now. God, they are spoiled,” he said. Sending a message to his friends, Jelly Roll added, “They are watching this, by the way. This is basic cable, I love y’all!”
Reflecting on Jail Life
In a June episode of SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show, Jelly Roll opened up about the harsh realities of his criminal past and incarceration. He described a sense of safety in jail that he didn’t feel on the streets. “When you were in the streets, there’s no safety. Anything could happen at any time,” he said. Jail, in contrast, offered a small comfort and a chance to regroup. “At least in jail was this little bit of comfort and chance to regroup and you’d always sell yourself the dream in jail, too. ‘Oh, I’m gonna figure this out. I’m changing. I got an idea.'”
A Long Road to Redemption
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, has been to jail around 40 times, with notable arrests at 16 for aggravated robbery and at 23 for drug dealing. Despite this tumultuous past, he has used these experiences to fuel his music and personal growth.
A New Musical Era
At CMA Fest earlier this month, Jelly Roll teased his latest music era, following the success of his 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel. He shared his excitement with ET, saying, “This has been my whole life the last 11 months. I have been drowning in this album. I’ve never wrote more songs. I’ve never took it more serious and I’m probably gonna release more music this year than I’ve ever released in a year of my career.”
Conclusion
Jelly Roll’s journey from a troubled past to a successful music career is a testament to his resilience and transformation. His candid reflections on fatherhood, incarceration, and staying connected to his roots provide a deeper understanding of the man behind the music. As he embarks on a new musical era, fans can look forward to more heartfelt and powerful songs from this talented artist.
