Jelly Roll

Jason Bradley DeFord, known professionally as Jelly Roll, was born on December 4, 1984, in Antioch, Tennessee. His early life was marked by adversity, including his father working as a meat salesman and bookie, and his mother’s struggles with mental illness and addiction. From his teenage years into his twenties, DeFord faced multiple arrests and periods of incarceration for various charges, including possession with intent to distribute and aggravated robbery. He earned his GED at the age of 23 while imprisoned, a turning point that set him on a path toward a different future. These early experiences profoundly shaped his perspective and later became central themes in his music.

Jelly Roll began his music career in 2003 in hip-hop, drawing inspiration from artists like Three 6 Mafia and UGK. He initially sold his mixtapes, such as ‘The Plain Shmear Tape’ and the ‘Gamblin’ on the White Boy’ series (2004-2011), out of his car. A notable early achievement was his 2010 collaboration with Lil Wyte, “Pop Another Pill,” which garnered over 6.3 million YouTube views and led to the formation of the hip-hop group SNO. Throughout the 2010s, he released numerous mixtapes and independent albums, collaborating with artists including Struggle Jennings and Tech N9ne. He navigated challenges like legal action from Waffle House over his mixtape ‘Whiskey, Weed, & Women,’ which was originally titled ‘Whiskey, Weed, & Waffle House,’ demonstrating his early resilience in the music industry.

The 2020s marked a significant career progression for Jelly Roll as he transitioned into country and rock music, achieving mainstream success. His debut on the Grand Ole Opry in November 2021 was followed by major milestones, including his first number-one song on rock radio, “Dead Man Walking,” in May 2022. January 2023 saw his debut country single, “Son of a Sinner,” reach number one on country radio, written with Ernest and David Ray Stevens. “Son of a Sinner” also achieved significant recognition, winning three CMT Music Awards in 2023: Male Video of the Year, Male Breakthrough Video of the Year, and Digital-First Performance of the Year. In February 2023, he set a record with 25 weeks at number one on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart. His ninth studio album, ‘Whitsitt Chapel,’ featuring the hit single “Need a Favor,” was released in June 2023. Further accolades include winning New Artist of the Year at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards in November 2023 and a nomination for Best New Artist at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024. He also testified before the U.S. Congress in January 2024, advocating for anti-fentanyl legislation, using his past struggles with drug distribution to inform his testimony. These achievements highlight his journey from early challenges to a celebrated artist and public figure.