How Jelly Roll Found His Way Into Country Music

If there is one name in country music that everyone has been talking about in the past few months, it’s Jelly Roll. With a unique stage name and larger-than-life persona, it’s no surprise he has become a breakout star. His journey is worth taking a look at deeper look at, so we’ll explore how Jelly Roll found himself in country music.

His legal name is Jason DeFord, and he’s a Tennessee native that grew up just south of Nashville. Being from the area, Jelly Roll was exposed to a different side from the honky-tonk image of the city. He told Billboard, “The culture I was first exposed to was hip-hop. Not even just music, but the culture — breakdancing, graffiti, freestyling, the clothing, I didn’t know there was this other country music culture in town. You just knew the culture you were exposed to.” He got his nickname ‘Jelly Roll’ from his mother since he was, in his own words, “a chubby kid.”

His mother battled an addiction to drugs, something that still affects him today. Jelly Roll went on to spend about 12 years in and out of the jail system before a life-changing moment made him reflect on his choices. He found out he had a daughter, and was determined to be the kind of father he had growing up. Jelly Roll decided that music would be his path going forward. He wanted to make music that would make an impact on others, like how his mother found comfort in songs.

One of the singer’s passions lies in the hip-hop and rap genres. Jelly Roll's 2010 collaboration "Pop Another Pill" with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte reached over 6.3 million YouTube views. The album Year Round was released in 2011, and the record kickstarted a string of hip-hop records and mixtapes. He released the mixtape Weed, Whiskey, & Waffle House in 2013. Jelly Roll then had to change the title to Whiskey, Weed, & Women after the restaurant threatened legal action over the use of their name and logo on the cover. The replacement cover featured the cease and desist stamp. His frequent collaborations with artist Struggle Jennings, who happens to be related to Waylon Jennings, began in 2017 with the release of Waylon & Willie. The Waylon & Willie series has spawned four editions to date.

In 2020, the singer released his album Self Medicated. This project fell under the hip-hop and rap genre but played into different styles. The song “Save Me” was the first time he led vocally on a track instead of rapping. It became his first gold-certified song. Another track on the album “Johnny and June” was inspired by the iconic country couple, even as Jelly Roll raps throughout the song

Jelly Roll was eventually signed to BBR Music Group in Nashville after working with labels such as Bad Apple INC, War Dog, and releasing them independently. He released his debut project under the label, Ballads Of The Broken, in 2021. That album included songs, “Sober,” “Dead Man Walking,” and “Son of a Sinner.” It seems like someone would've had to live under a rock if they hadn’t heard “Son Of A Sinner” on the radio in the last year. The song scored the #1 spot on country radio, as well as the Billboard Country Airplay chart. “Son Of A Sinner” also happens to be co-written by fellow rising star ERNEST. His tune “Dead Man Walking” went #1 on the rock charts, cementing his cross-genre appeal. Jelly Roll went on to make his Grand Ole Opry debut on November 9, 2021. On July 7th, 2022, he was invited by country singer Craig Morgan to join him on stage at the Opry to perform “Almost Home.”

Country music is the place to tell honest, and oftentimes very raw, personal stories. Jelly Roll has said before he gravitates to the poetic nature of songwriting - no matter the genre lines. His 2022 song “She” is a brave testament that found its home within country music. There have been plenty of country songs centered around addiction, but this one felt different. As someone who experienced addiction in their own life, Jelly Roll instead aims the song at the females who have suffered around him. He shared in an interview with Billboard, “My child’s mother disappeared from her life for almost five years because of heroin addiction. Thankfully, she’s sober and back in her life now. My mother has struggled with addiction her whole life. When you grow up in a middle- and lower-class community, no one sees the effects of drug abuse like those people.” That song is just another reason why his authentic and honest approach to music has resonated with so many fans.

Jelly Roll is fresh off of winning three CMT Music Awards, and there is no sign of slowing down. On the award show, he performed “Need A Favor,” which allowed everyone to see the performance qualities he has to offer. Jelly Roll brought out a gospel choir to help bring the song to life and was one of the highlights of the evening. All signs point to radio stations loving “Need A Favor” as well. Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO, also garnered attention at this year's CMT Music Awards. Fans love seeing glimpses of his life with Bunnie. Bunnie happens to host the Dumb Blonde Podcast and is known as a model. She has referred to herself as the “trailer park Barbara Walters.” The two seem to be quite the captivating couple on social media. Collaborations with Brantley Gilbert and Tyler Farr prove that Jelly Roll has been well-received by the country music community. Jelly Roll will release a new, highly-anticipated album titled Whitsitt Chapel on June 2nd, 2023. Is this musical machine the next superstar? Time will certainly tell.

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