Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Jelly Roll has a criminal record that includes charges for drug possession, drug trafficking, shoplifting, and aggravated robbery.
Jelly Roll has taken a significant step toward obtaining a full pardon for his past offenses.
The Tennessee Board of Parole officially recommended that the 40-year-old artist be granted a full pardon after a 45-minute hearing. During the session, several witnesses, including Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall, who oversees the city’s jail, provided statements.
The hearing concluded with a unanimous vote by the board to recommend the pardon, with only one member abstaining from the vote.
“This was incredible,” said Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, following the vote, according to a recording of the meeting. “I pray this goes through. But today was special for me, regardless.”
Jelly Roll has been candid about his past legal troubles, which include convictions for drug possession, drug trafficking, shoplifting, and aggravated robbery. His journey began at the age of 14 when he was sent to a juvenile detention center, and he spent years cycling in and out of prison.
Reflecting on his past, he shared on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast in October 2024 that committing armed robbery at 15 now seems completely illogical to him. “I don’t know what I was even trying to be when I look back now,” he confessed. “This is how I know I was 15 because the more I try to make sense of it, I can’t. There was no logic to what I did. It made absolutely no sense. And I learned so much from it and the way that I interact with people.”
During his time in prison, Jelly Roll engaged in both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs, earned his GED, and participated in a Christian program that allowed him to deepen his spiritual connection.
After turning his life around, Jelly Roll made a significant breakthrough in the music industry in 2021 with his album Ballad of the Broken. He continues to give back to others by frequently performing in prisons and rehabilitation centers, helping feed the homeless, and donating proceeds from his shows to support at-risk youth.
He explained to the Tennessee parole board that his music career began as a “passion project” that turned out to be therapeutic, leading to life-changing opportunities he never expected. “It started as a passion project that felt therapeutic and would end up changing my life in ways that I never dreamed imaginable and opened doors that I’ve never thought possible,” he shared.
A major reason the “Save Me” singer is seeking a pardon is to continue touring and helping others. He expressed, “I’ll still be using this same pardon, God willing, to go do missionary work in my 50s and 60s.”
Jelly Roll further told the board, “I want to be an inspiration for people who are now where I used to be – to let them know that change is truly possible. One of the reasons I’m asking for your recommendation for this pardon is because I’m looking to take my message of redemption through the power of music and faith through the rest of the world.”
One of the reasons Jelly Roll is seeking a pardon is to make it easier for him to travel to Canada for performances, as his criminal record currently complicates the process. He would need to apply for a special permit, which often involves long wait times for approval, according to a letter from an immigration attorney included in his clemency packet.
Despite these challenges, Jelly Roll recently managed to tour Canada and also took his first trip to the United Kingdom, where he discussed a rehabilitation program.
