Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Jelly Roll revealed that his daughter was heartbroken upon discovering her mother’s recent arrest on drug-related charges.
Jelly Roll recently opened up about the emotional impact his daughter Bailee has faced due to her mother’s struggles with addiction.
In a heartfelt interview on The Pivot podcast, the 40-year-old country artist, known for his openness about his past arrests and time spent in jail for drug-related offenses, explained why he’s deeply committed to supporting those affected by the heroin and fentanyl crises.
The Save Me singer revealed that Bailee experienced difficulties following her mother, Felicia Beckwith’s, recent arrest on felony drug charges.
“My daughter’s mother has battled addiction since my child was born,” shared Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord. “In that situation, it’s not the addict who suffers most — it’s the family.”
Jelly Roll reflected on how his daughter Bailee has been impacted by her mother’s struggles, sharing that he’s witnessed the emotional toll it has taken on her.
“I have a 16, almost 17-year-old upstairs, and I’ve seen how deeply this has affected her. It’s really hurt her and had a significant impact on her life,” he said.
The singer explained that he learned about Felicia Beckwith’s recent arrest through a news article someone sent him, suggesting he check in on Bailee.
Jelly Roll also revealed that he confided in his wife, Bunnie XO, expressing feelings of guilt over how his public profile may have drawn unwanted attention to his ex’s struggles — and, in turn, Bailee’s life.
“I told my wife, ‘I’ve brought the world into our home,'” he recalled. “We just have to accept what comes with that. Honestly, I feel like this is more my fault than anyone else’s.”
Jelly Roll revealed that his daughter Bailee was deeply hurt when she found out about her mother’s arrest.
“It broke her heart,” he shared. “This is a 16, 17-year-old who knows her mother struggles with addiction, but seeing her mom’s mugshot — with her face visibly affected by meth — was devastating,” he said, his voice trailing off.
The singer then admitted he was becoming emotional, visibly tearing up as he spoke.
Jelly Roll recalled witnessing his daughter Bailee experience the pain of her mother’s struggles all over again.
“I watched her go through it again, and I thought, ‘Ah, man,'” he said. “I’m 40 now, I’ve been through a lot of therapy, done a lot of inner work, and have a strong relationship with God. It hurt me, but I knew I could pray about it and move forward.”
Wiping away tears, he added, “But then I remembered — she’s 16. She doesn’t have those tools yet. She’s still learning how to cope. This really hurt her.”
The four-time Grammy nominee also noted that while Bailee had been following the news about her mother’s arrest, she was using humor as a way to manage her emotions.
Jelly Roll shared that humor has been one way Bailee is coping with the situation.
“So we laugh about it,” he said. “It’s her way of masking the pain with humor, and we recognize that. But she’s 16 — she should be allowed to process her grief in her own way.”
He added that seeing Bailee smile, even briefly, was a positive change. “It was good to see her chuckle about it because her initial reaction was much more painful,” he explained.
“But she’s working through it,” Jelly Roll added.
Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO, who have been married since 2016, have primary custody of Bailee as well as his 8-year-old son, Noah, from another previous relationship.
Jelly Roll has previously shared that he was arrested over 40 times for drug-related offenses. Despite his troubled past, the singer managed to overcome his battles with addiction and break free from the cycle of incarceration.
In January 2024, he testified before Congress, delivering a powerful speech about the devastating effects of fentanyl on communities across the United States.
