Ever wondered how did jelly roll get famous? You might see his hits on Spotify or a clip on Instagram. You may ask how a guy who hit rock bottom could top country charts.
Jason Bradley DeFord earned his GED on his first try after just 70 days in high school. This post will trace his path from rap tapes to Ballad of the Broken. We will unpack songs like Save Me and the No.
1 hit Son of a Sinner. We will show how he signed a big label deal and played the Grand Ole Opry. You will find hope in each step. Read on.
Key Takeaways
- Jason Bradley DeFord (Jelly Roll) left school at 16, earned his GED on the first try after 70 days, and wrote hundreds of songs while serving time for drug possession and robbery from age 14 to 24.
- He began his rap career in 2003, embraced country-rock by 2021 with Ballad of the Broken, and reached No. 1 on Billboard Country Airplay in March 2022 with “Son of a Sinner.”
- His 2020 single “Save Me” hit over 200 million YouTube views, led to a major-label deal in early 2021, and earned him a Grand Ole Opry debut in November 2021.
- He won CMA New Artist of the Year (2023), took home three 2024 CMT Music Awards, scored ACM Music Event of the Year for “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson, and received two Grammy nominations in 2024.
- By May 2024 he lost 50–70 lbs, opened Whitsitt Chapel bar in Nashville, testified on prison reform before the Senate on January 11, 2024, and funded a Nashville youth music studio in April 2024.
Early Life and Struggles
He served months behind bars for drug possession and aggravated robbery before he faced probation. He battled a hard drug addiction, then he picked up a mic and found a fresh path.
Legal troubles and incarceration
Jason Bradley DeFord faced a first lockup at age 14. Court records list drug possession, shoplifting, aggravated robbery. Judges sent him to juvenile facilities and adult jails. He spent years behind bars and on probation until age 24.
He wrote hundreds of songs inside those walls.
Jail cells became his writing room, where raw talent took shape. He poured drug addiction struggles into lines that later became ballads of the broken. Locked fences and cold nights sharpened his street rap style.
Early time in lockups fueled his shift toward country music textures.
Overcoming addiction
Jelly Roll faced drug addiction head-on after drug possession charges and jail time. Prison stints left him shaken. He self medicated before he found help.
Talk therapy and peer support helped him build coping skills. He still smokes marijuana to stay sober from alcohol and other drugs.
Music as a Path to Redemption
He grabbed old pain by the horns and turned it into raw songs about second chances. He used data analysis and SEO tricks to send those tracks up the charts.
Transition from rap to country music
Jelly Roll started in hip-hop in 2003 with The Plain Shmear Tape. His early mixes featured Lil Wyte, Struggle Jennings and Bunnie XO. In small studios, he used a mixing console and microphone to shape each track.
After his daughter Bailee arrived in 2008, he chased a second chance in music.
He leaned into rock and country sounds by 2021. Ballad of the Broken hit both rock and country charts. His Son of a Sinner single rose to No 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in March 2022.
Fans now catch him at Bridgestone Arena and the Grand Ole Opry.
Early independent releases and collaborations
Jason DeFord dropped Pop Another Pill in 2010. His track fused hip-hop and rap with vibrant street tales. Save Me hit streaming sites in 2020 as a raw acoustic ballad, and it scored over 200 million YouTube views.
Bedroom sessions used a mixing board to shape his sound.
Independent buzz grew when he teamed with Lil Wyte, Three 6 Mafia, Struggle Jennings, and Bunnie XO. Stripped-down riffs on an acoustic guitar bridged rap and country music. Fans streamed songs on Bandcamp, and they booked local performance halls.
Grassroots shows gave him a taste of stage life before a record deal.
Breakthrough in the Music Industry
His song “Save Me” blew up on a streaming app, and it shot up the charts. A major record company signed him after the video platform buzz.
Jelly Roll dropped “Save Me” in 2020. Fans streamed the track over 200 million times on YouTube. YouTube stats spiked, thanks to raw lyrics and a soulful voice. Country music outlets tuned in too.
He earned his first nod as new artist of the year at the CMT Music Awards.
Streaming numbers led to label interest. He scored a deal and booked shows at Bridgestone Arena and the Grand Ole Opry. Social media chatter jumped, and the line between rap and country blurred.
It paved the way for CMA Awards gigs and chart climbs.
Signing with a major label
Music execs offered him a record deal in early 2021. The label booked sessions in a tracking room, assembled a promo team, and tapped streaming platforms to warm fans up. He then debuted at the Grand Ole Opry in November 2021, proving their push worked.
His label debut album, Ballad of the Broken, hit shelves in late 2021. Tracks like Son of a Sinner rose on country music charts. Teams pitched him as a best new artist pick at CMA Awards and CMT Music Awards.
This push made the country singer a national draw.
Mainstream Success and Recognition
He topped the Billboard Country chart, riding a wave of streams on Spotify and YouTube. He sold out arenas, scooped a CMA Award for male vocalist of the year, and even earned a nod from Grammy judges.
Chart-topping albums and singles
Jelly Roll’s Ballad of the Broken hit both rock and country charts on Billboard in 2021. It racked up millions of streams on Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora. His Son of a Sinner single climbed to No.
1 on the US Country Airplay chart in March 2022. Fans shared that track on social media. Radio stations added it to top rotation.
Whitsitt Chapel arrived in 2023 with two big hits. Need a Favor and Save Me became instant fan favorites. Listeners added both songs to hundreds of country music playlists. The album boosted his presence on Billboard charts.
Spotify users streamed those tracks by the millions.
Winning major music awards
Five nods landed at the 2023 CMA Awards. He took home New Artist of the Year that night. Three top honors came at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, including Male Video of the Year, CMT Performance of the Year, and Video of the Year.
This feat shows how far his country music path has climbed.
The song Save Me, with Lainey Wilson, won Music Event of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards. Industry judges also handed two Grammy Award nominations for 2024, one for Best New Artist.
His wins and nods prove a big leap from underground rap to mainstream charts. Fans still cheer at Bridgestone Arena shout-outs.
Personal Growth and Transformation
He cut junk food and leaned on a meal plan, logging progress in a habit tracker. This daily grind shaped his fitness journey, and it enriched his family life.
Weight loss journey and lifestyle changes
Jelly Roll kicked off his fitness journey in early 2024, lacing up a running shoe and strapping on a smartwatch. He logged miles in a tracking app, mixing sprints with easy jogs. He swapped greasy dinners for grilled chicken, veggies, and water.
He cut late-night pizza and added protein shakes after workouts. He melted off fifty to seventy pounds by May.
He knocked out a 5K run in May 2024, clocking a personal best, that win felt bigger than a Grammy Awards nod. He pictures crossing the Grand Ole Opry stage after he conquers a half marathon.
He tracks progress with a heart rate monitor and a running map on his phone. He packs a sports vest, water bottle, and protein bars to stay fueled.
Family life and prioritizing relationships
Mike married Bunnie XO in 2016 and won custody of his daughter Bailee. That same year, he welcomed his son Noah with a former partner. Fans use a search engine to find tales of his balance between a country music career and home life.
He credits Bunnie XO with providing stability and funds that secured him full custody.
Late nights on tour strain strong ties. He sets phone alarms for bedtime calls and books days off for home dinners. His journey shows personal growth and second chances in every verse.
A backroad baptism tour stop near Bridgestone Arena gives him afternoons with Bunnie XO and the kids.
Expanding Beyond Music
He landed a cameo in Tulsa King. He opened a honky tonk near a sports and music venue, and he co-hosts the Dumb Blonde Podcast.
New business ventures, including a Nashville bar
Jason Bradley DeFord opened a bar on Broadway in Nashville. He named it Whitsitt Chapel Bar. Staff mix cocktails named Whiskey, Weed, & Women. Plenty of live country acts play a night near Ryman and Grand Ole Opry crowds spill over after shows at Bridgestone Arena.
DeFord also co-owns a recording studio and a merch brand. He hosts watch parties for the CMT Music Awards and new artist of the year announcements. Fans sip a signature drink while cheering a win.
This blend of music and hospitality suits his vibe.
Advocate for Change and Inspiration
He hosts an audio show that funds prison reform for returning citizens. He champions community outreach with raw stories that spark second chances.
Supporting prison reform and community outreach
Jelly Roll visits jails to share hope and show how a music career can offer second chances. He testified before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on January 11, 2024, to back prison reform and better reentry support.
Proceeds from Jelly Roll’s Bridgestone Arena show paid for a music studio at the Nashville youth facility in April 2024. That studio helps returning citizens and teens record songs, build confidence, and see a brighter path.
Impact on fans and returning citizens
Fans fill Bridgestone Arena and cheer him on during his Backroad Baptism Tour. He visits jails to inspire inmates, sharing his fight with drug possession and aggravated robbery charges.
He brings guitars, songs, and talks, pushing for prison reform and community outreach. He stresses future options, job skills, and second chances.
Returning citizens step into his Nashville bar with new dreams. He greets each newcomer, offering advice on music careers and sober living. He shares raw Ballads of the Broken on the Dumb Blonde Podcast and at live shows.
He makes sure every voice feels heard in this inclusive place.
Jelly Roll’s Age and Career Milestones
Check out his age plus landmark moments in a table.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Born, now 40 years old |
| 2003 | Launched music career at 19 |
| 2020 | Released “Save Me,” hit over 200 million YouTube views |
| Nov 2021 | Debuted at Grand Ole Opry |
| 2023 | Won New Artist of the Year at CMA Awards |
| 2024 | Earned two GRAMMY nominations |
Takeaway
Jelly Roll fought through dark nights, he earned his GED on the first try. Passing the test so fast gave him fresh hope. A run-down music hall became his home stage. Years later, he jokes that stage lights chased his old demons away.
His climb to No.1 on a national country chart proved his power. This story shows how grit and tools like a GED drive second chances.
FAQs
1. How did Jason Bradley DeFord, better known as Jelly Roll, break into country music?
He built buzz by posting raw songs online, mixing rap and country. He teamed with Struggle Jennings and Lil Wyte to reach new fans.
2. What songs lifted Jelly Roll to stardom?
His song “Son of a Sinner” hit home with honest words. Then “Need a Favor” climbed the charts. These tracks opened major doors.
3. How did awards help Jelly Roll’s rise?
He played at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and won nods at the CMT Music Awards. He earned spots at the CMA Awards and Grammy Awards, even snagged Best New Artist and New Artist of the Year.
4. What tours and albums mark his journey?
His album Ballads of the Broken hit the airwaves hard. He packed venues on the Backroad Baptism Tour, from dive bars to Bridgestone Arena. Fans knew his voice could fill a room.
5. How did Jelly Roll turn his troubles into fuel?
He faced drug addiction, drug possession charges, and aggravated robbery counts. He took second chances, found personal growth, and poured it all into songs like Whiskey, Weed, & Women.
6. Does Jelly Roll host a podcast or work with other stars?
Yes, he co-hosts the Dumb Blonde Podcast with Bunnie XO, swapping stories with guests. He invites pals like Craig Morgan, he shares jokes, he keeps fans close.
