The journey of Jelly Roll has transformed him into a prominent figure in outlaw country music, evolving from a background rooted in hip-hop and rock ‘n’ roll to creating heartfelt Western ballads that delve into themes of crime and addiction. Known for his hit “Save Me,” he openly shares how his tumultuous past fuels his music, revealing a childhood filled with challenges that few could imagine.
Growing up in a blue-collar, crime-ridden environment in Tennessee, Jelly Roll confronted addiction, a broken family, and imprisonment early in life. Born Jason Bradley DeFord on December 4, 1984, he spent his formative years in Antioch, just outside of Nashville, where his love for music blossomed thanks to his mother, Donna.
Jelly Roll’s father, Buddy DeFord, worked as a meat salesman and bookmaker, with Jelly Roll sometimes helping collect betting slips
On “The Joe Rogan Experience,” he recounted how his mother would create an enchanting atmosphere at home by playing records, which provided him an escape from his hardships and eventually led to a flourishing career in music. His rise to fame is a testament to his arduous path.
Jelly Roll’s early life was marked by poverty and the absence of stable jobs within his community. Reflecting on his upbringing, he remarked to GQ that few people around him had conventional employment. His father, Horace “Buddy” DeFord, was a meat salesman who also engaged in bookmaking, with Jelly Roll occasionally assisting him in obtaining betting slips. He humorously recalled being the go-to person for game recaps that weren’t widely available.
As a young aspiring artist, Jelly Roll resorted to drug dealing to support his music career, often handing out his mixtapes to customers. “It was like my business card,” he noted in an interview with CBS News, illustrating how he creatively connected his two pursuits.
The dissolution of his parents’ marriage when he was 13 forced Jelly Roll to take on adult responsibilities. He felt the weight of supporting his mother and believed that criminal activity was the only viable option. In a Billboard interview, he reflected on his father’s failed relationships and his own regrets about the life choices that followed, questioning whether a different path might have led him to a better future.
Rather than pursuing education, Jelly Roll chose a life of crime, which felt like a natural progression given his surroundings. Surrounded by addiction and illegal activities, including his father’s gambling, he expressed a desire to be the one profiting rather than losing money to drugs. Unfortunately, he eventually succumbed to a cocaine addiction, sharing with People that it took him time to understand that he could enjoy alcohol without resorting to drugs.
While Jelly Roll candidly discusses his difficult upbringing, he acknowledges the love his parents provided despite their struggles. His mother, who dealt with severe anxiety and depression, battled addiction while his father ran a wholesale meat business.
Jelly Roll reminisced on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast about his mother’s rare outings, noting that music was their shared solace. He credited her for his passion, describing how her music-filled moments transformed their home atmosphere, and emphasized that he continues to write songs in her honor.
Jelly Roll’s first brush with the law came in his early teens, leading to a tumultuous period marked by numerous arrests. He recounted on the Flagrant podcast that he was first arrested for marijuana possession, a precursor to a series of legal troubles that would follow, including a stint in prison for armed robbery when he was just 14. Reflecting on this time, he acknowledged the fear instilled by the justice system, recalling how the prospect of a lengthy sentence loomed over him during his youth.
The turning point in Jelly Roll’s life occurred in his twenties, following the birth of his daughter, Bailee Ann, while he was serving time for drug charges. This pivotal moment ignited a desire to change his life. Now a dedicated father, he looks back at his past mistakes with regret and expresses a desire to make amends, even contemplating reaching out to past robbery victims.
At 16, Jelly Roll faced serious charges after attempting to rob a drug dealer with a firearm, leading to a trial as an adult. The consequences were severe, resulting in over a year of incarceration and several years of probation. He shared his disbelief at being treated as an adult when he couldn’t even legally purchase alcohol, feeling that the justice system had predetermined his fate.
Today, Jelly Roll is committed to helping youth who find themselves in similar circumstances to those he once faced. In 2024, he donated a music studio to the Davidson County Juvenile Justice Center, where he was once imprisoned.
On The Bobby Bones Show podcast, he expressed his belief that these young individuals deserve opportunities to escape their environment and find hope through music, inspiring them to pursue their dreams and possibly follow in his footsteps as country music stars.
