Who is Jelly Roll? A look at his journey from prison to best new artist Grammy nominee

Is he country? Is he hip-hop? Is he rock?

The man born Jason DeFord but known as the heavily tattooed music star Jelly Roll is a mishmash of musical styles and he’s on the path to conquer them all.

His best new artist nomination at the 2024 Grammy Awards is another accomplishment for the Nashville-born singer, who turns 40 in December.

Last year, Jelly Roll nabbed new artist of the year at the Country Music Association Awards and three CMT Music Awards for his hit, “Son of a Sinner.”

Though he’s floated around the music industry since 2011, it took a decade and some major personal bumps for him to achieve mainstream success.

Learn more about Jelly Roll's tough road to stardom as he vies for Grammy Awards on Feb. 4 on CBS/Paramount+.

What songs does Jelly Roll sing?

The burly belter hit the Billboard mainstream rock chart in 2021 with “Dead Man Walking,” but by 2022 crossed over to country. A string of Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts followed, including “Need a Favor,” “Save Me” (with Lainey Wilson, who's nominated with Jelly Roll for a best country/duo group performance Grammy) and “Wild Ones.”

In January, Jelly Roll released the single “Halfway to Hell,” the lead track from his 2023 country-focused album, “Whitsitt Chapel.”

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Why was Jelly Roll arrested?

According to Davidson County Criminal Court records, Jelly Roll’s first arrest as an adult happened in 2002 when he was 18. Prosecutors formally charged him with two counts of aggravated robbery. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and seven years of probation.

After Jelly Roll was released early from the Tennessee Department of Corrections, he was arrested again in 2008 for violating the drug-free school zone act. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of possession with intent to sell cocaine that same year and was sentenced to eight years in prison and another eight years of probation. Prison records show his probation ended Dec. 16, 2016.

In November 2022, Jelly Roll donated about $250,000 to finance the construction of a recording studio within the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center in Nashville, where he spent time as early as age 14.

What is the connection between Jelly Roll and fentanyl?

An admitted drug dealer in his younger years, Jelly Roll is dedicated to speaking out against the fentanyl crisis in the U.S.

In January, he appeared before Congress on Capitol Hill at a hearing titled "Stopping the Flow of Fentanyl: Public Awareness and Legislative Solutions."

Jelly Roll spoke bluntly about the issue.

"Fentanyl transcends partisanship and ideology. ... This is a totally different problem … I am not here to defend the use of illegal drugs,” he said, noting his "unique paradox of his history as a drug dealer" who was "part of the problem" and now aims "to be a part of the solution."

Who is Jelly Roll’s wife?

Jelly Roll is married to model and entrepreneur Alyssa DeFord, known as Bunnie XO and host of the “Dumb Blonde” podcast.

The couple met in 2015 when she saw Jelly Roll perform at the Country Saloon in Las Vegas. They married at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas the following year.

In a 2023 Billboard interview, Jelly Roll called his wife “a beacon of change in my life.” Last year the couple renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas.

In the description of her podcast, she refers to herself as “the degenerate love child of Dolly Parton & Dr. Ruth,” while her Instagram page (@xomgitsbunnie) christens her “the Trailerpark Barbara Walters.”

On her podcast, Bunnie has interviewed celebrities including Shanna Moakler and tackled topics such as relationship trauma, dating and true crime.

Jelly Roll’s wife is also a visible presence at his live shows. During his 2023 Backroad Baptism Tour, Bunnie often hosted the singer’s meet and greets and interacted closely with his fans.

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