Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, is a multi-talented American musician renowned for his dynamic career spanning hip-hop, rock, and country music. Raised in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, Jelly Roll’s early life was marked by adversity. His father worked as a meat salesman and had a side job as a bookie, while his mother struggled with mental illness and addiction. Jelly Roll’s turbulent teenage years included multiple arrests and time spent in jail for offenses such as possession of marijuana and aggravated robbery.
Inspired by iconic rappers like Three 6 Mafia, UGK, and 8Ball & MJG, Jelly Roll began his music career in hip-hop by selling mixtapes out of his car. His early work includes The Plain Shmear Tape (2003) and the four-part Gamblin’ on the White Boy series (2004-2011). One of his significant early collaborations was “Pop Another Pill” with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte, which garnered over 6.3 million YouTube views and contributed to the album Year Round by the hip-hop group SNO, of which Jelly Roll was a member.
Jelly Roll’s 2013 mixtape Whiskey, Weed, & Women was initially named Whiskey, Weed, & Waffle House but had to be renamed due to a cease and desist from the restaurant chain. The cover of the renamed mixtape featured a “cease and desist” stamp in place of Waffle House’s logo, highlighting Jelly Roll’s unconventional approach and resilience.
In 2021, Jelly Roll made a notable debut at the Grand Ole Opry, marking a significant moment in his career. The following year, on May 9, 2022, he achieved his first number-one hit on rock radio with “Dead Man Walking.” His entry into country music was marked by his debut single “Son of a Sinner,” which was released in January 2023. The track, written by Jelly Roll, Ernest, and David Ray Stevens, reached number one on Country radio and peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. It also contributed to a historic 25-week run at number one on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.
On December 9, 2022, Jelly Roll sold out Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to a crowd of 15,000 fans, with special appearances by Chris Young, Sam Hunt, Riley Green, Shinedown, and others. In the summer of 2023, he embarked on the 44-city ‘Backroad Baptism Tour,’ further cementing his status as a prominent performer.
Jelly Roll’s success continued at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, where he won Male Video of the Year, Male Breakthrough Video of the Year, and Digital-First Performance of the Year for “Son of a Sinner.” He released his album Whitsitt Chapel on June 2, 2023, featuring the single “Need a Favor.”
In November 2023, Jelly Roll was honored with the New Artist of the Year award at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards. In January 2024, he testified before the U.S. Congress in support of anti-fentanyl legislation, sharing his personal transformation from a former distributor of illegal drugs to an advocate for change. However, his journey faced legal challenges in April 2024 when he was sued by the Pennsylvania-based wedding band Jellyroll for trademark infringement.
In July 2024, Jelly Roll featured on Eminem’s album The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) on the track “Somebody Save Me,” which sampled his own song “Save Me,” further showcasing his versatility and continued influence in the music industry.
