You might see his name and wonder, who is jelly roll and what makes him a star in country music? You may feel out of the loop when friends talk about his rise and hit songs.
Jason Bradley DeFord, known as Jelly Roll, started in the rap scene and then moved to country music. He earned a Grammy nomination after his song Save Me climbed the charts. This guide will map his road, from jail to Whitsitt Chapel hits, and show how he and Bunnie Xo built his fame.
Read on.
Key Takeaways
- Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord on December 4, 1984 in Nashville, rose from rap to country. His May 2020 song “Save Me” earned a 2024 Grammy nomination. He won CMA New Artist of the Year in November 2023.
- He faced over 40 arrests, served one year in juvenile detention at 16, and two eight-year prison terms (2002, 2008) for drug and robbery charges. He got sober in 2016 and wrote “Ballads of the Broken” about his past.
- His single “Son of a Sinner” hit No. 1 on Billboard Country Airplay in January 2023. His album Whitsitt Chapel debuted at No. 3 on Billboard Top Country Albums in June 2023. He won three CMT Music Awards in April 2023, including Video of the Year for “Need a Favor.”
- He married Alyssa “Bunnie XO” DeFord on August 31, 2016. They have two children, Bailee Ann (born 2008) and Noah (born 2016), and expect a third in March 2025 via IVF. He lost nearly 200 lbs by April 2025 (from 540 to 357 lbs) and ran his first 5K in May 2024.
Early Life of Jelly Roll
He grew up in Antioch, a tough Nashville district, where simple dreams clashed with street tests. He fed his soul with songs even as he fought serious crime charges and beat addiction behind bars.
Childhood and upbringing
Jason Bradley DeFord was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 4, 1984. His mother called him Jelly Roll because of his weight. Young Jason wrote songs around age nine or ten. Local fans heard his beats and rhymes in the hip-hop scene.
Mixing beats and lyrics at night became a habit.
High school saw him sell mixtapes starting in 2003. Young DeFord hit the streets around the Antioch neighborhood with small CD runs. Rappers like Lil Wyte and Struggle Jennings inspired his style.
That early hustle shaped a future country singer.
Struggles with addiction and prison
Jelly Roll got trapped by addiction in his teens. He grew up in the Antioch neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He dealt drugs and stole to feed his habit. He climbed a long list of more than 40 arrests.
He served one year in a detention center for aggravated robbery at 16. A 2002 conviction sent him to a penitentiary for eight years. A 2008 break of the drug-free school zone act cost him another eight-year stretch.
Probation ended on December 16, 2016. Then he fought addiction with help from counselors. The studio became his safe space. Tracks like Save Me and Need a Favor drew on his scars. Fans felt the pain in Ballads of the Broken.
Craig Morgan saluted his comeback on the Backroad Baptism Tour.
Music Career
Jelly Roll rose in southern hip-hop, then he snatched a guitar and spilled his soul into country music. He cracked the charts with Save Me, and he snagged a nod at the CMT Music Awards.
Transition from rap to country music
A man named Jelly Roll grew from rap roots to country music fame in Nashville, Tennessee. His first album Strictly Business dropped in 2011 and peaked at No. 67 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Bars and beats filled a recording space in Antioch, where Three 6 Mafia, Lil Wyte and Struggle Jennings joined him. A stage on Backroad Baptism Tour gave him a fresh crowd.
He swapped hard rap loops for slide string instrument and soulful fiddle parts. Son of a Sinner showed that country heart in bold form. A spot at Whitsitt Chapel earned nods for new artist of the year at the CMA Awards.
The song Save Me climbed country music lists and won a CMT Music Awards prize. Listeners praise his southern hip-hop edge in heartfelt ballads.
Hit songs and albums
Jelly Roll landed on the Country Airplay chart in March 2022 with Son of a Sinner, and it reached the top spot in January 2023. Beautifully Broken debuted at the top of the record ranking in October 2024.
He followed with Whitsitt Chapel, which launched at number three on the album list in June 2023. Need a Favor scored male breakthrough video of the year at the CMT Music Awards, and fans packed venues on the backroad baptism tour.
The success of “Save Me”
‘Save Me’ hit airwaves in May 2020. It explored deep hopelessness, and fans clung to its raw lines. The track flexed his voice, and it sealed a deal with BMG Nashville. That signing led to bigger stages, packed halls and fresh eyes in country music.
The CMA Awards named him New Artist of the Year in November 2023. That crown opened doors to a Grammy nod for Best New Artist. It marked the switch from rap to country music, setting his rise in the genre ablaze.
Whitsitt Chapel and Grammy nominations
Need a Favor from Whitsitt Chapel hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, a top country music list. Fans cheered as Jelly Roll mixed soul and grit on that record.
Jelly Roll earned Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Country Duo, Group Performance in 2024. He also won CMA’s New Artist of the Year in November 2023.
Personal Life
He hit the jackpot when he married Bunnie XO, juggles life with their two kids, slimmed down on his weight loss journey and chats on the Dumb Blonde Podcast, so keep reading to learn more.
Marriage to Bunnie XO
Jelly Roll married Bunnie XO (Alyssa DeFord) on August 31, 2016. He popped the question on stage. It was during the Backroad Baptism Tour. Fans jumped to their feet. A wedding followed many country music hits.
Jason DeFord wore a suit, she wore a white dress. Bright lights framed their vows.
Their home sits near Nashville, Tennessee. They share life in the Antioch neighborhood. Bunnie XO cheers at CMT Music Awards and CMA Awards. She celebrates his nod for New Artist of the Year.
Both lean on hits like Save Me and Need a Favor. They build a life away from the crowd.
Family and children
He married Bunnie XO in a small ceremony. That match feels like a ballad in real life. They share two kids, Bailee Ann and Noah. Bailee Ann was born in 2008, she even starred in his Tears Could Talk video.
Noah arrived in 2016, and he might steal the spotlight in time.
A new baby lines up on their radar for March 2025. IVF treatments begin that month to grow the brood. The couple seems ready to write another verse in their life song.
Weight loss journey
Jelly Roll kicked off his weight loss journey in 2016 after doctors urged a change. The scale read 540 pounds at its peak. He dropped nearly 200 pounds by April 2024. For the first 5K race in May 2024, he laced up running shoes.
An activity tracker logged every step.
As of April 2025, he weighs 357 pounds and plans to lose 100 more. Tour life blends with meal prep on the Backroad Baptism Tour. Music sets the pace, with “Save Me” fueling treadmill sprints.
Fans heard details on Dumb Blonde Podcast segments.
Achievements and Recognition
He racked up nominations at prime country music award events, and he snagged a breakthrough video honor for “Son of a Sinner.”
He raced to No. 1 on the national album chart, and he sold out arenas on his Backroad Baptism Tour.
Awards and nominations
He has turned heads with top awards. The star now ranks among country music’s elite.
- Jelly Roll won three CMT Music Awards in April 2023, including Video of the Year for “Need a Favor”.
- He claimed three more CMT honors in April 2024, adding to his growing lineup.
- Fans cheered as he grabbed four People’s Choice Country Awards in September 2023.
- That night delivered Male Artist of 2023 to his name.
- Another big win came when the tune secured Song of 2023.
Touring and sold-out performances
Jelly Roll lights up stages coast to coast. His shows sell out fast, fans beg for more.
- Jelly Roll sold out his Backroad Baptism Tour stops in 2023, hitting packed arenas across the US.
- He headlined New Year’s Eve Live, Nashville’s Big Bash on CBS to ring in 2025, a coast-to-coast special.
- His run at Nissan Stadium drew a full house, matching his 25 weeks atop Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.
- He opened for Struggle Jennings and Lil Wyte on select road dates, driving demand in fresh markets.
- Fans packed the CMT Music Awards afterparty set and roared when he closed with “Save Me,” fueling buzz around Whitsitt Chapel.
Future Plans
Jelly Roll will hit the road for another Backroad Baptism Tour, and fans will fill each stop like a busy dance floor. He will hop on the Dumb Blonde Podcast to spill news on fresh ballads cut in a Nashville studio.
Upcoming tours and projects
The country music star joins American Idol as Artist in Residence in 2025. Stagecoach Music Festival will host him on its main stage. On November 4, 2024, he headlines Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati.
Additional Facts About Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll gave $250,000 in November 2022 to build a recording workspace in a Nashville youth lockup. A visit on the Dumb Blonde Podcast made headlines too. His net worth stands near $12 million as of April 2025.
He scored nods at the CMT Music Awards and CMA Awards.
Jelly Roll said, “I want to be a guidepost of hope for people to know that losers can win. That who you were isn’t who you are.” Another quote shows his edge, “Music is like human nature, it evolves or dies.
Artists should always be pushing the boundaries of what’s uncomfortable.” Fans on the Backroad Baptism Tour still share clips from his shows. Jason DeFord blends country music with rap roots and keeps defying the odds.
Takeaway
Jason Bradley DeFord rose from tough times, spinning his past into honest country music. Listeners catch his vibe on American Idol and cheer his award nod. Bunnie’s podcast brings fans closer, and her laughter fills every track.
He shed 200 pounds, ran a 5K, and dreams of skydiving to toast his wins. This rising star writes his story with real grit, and we all ride along for the next verse.
Discover more about this charismatic artist by exploring how tall Jelly Roll is on our special feature.
FAQs
1. Who is Jelly Roll?
Jelly Roll is a country music artist from the Antioch neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He blends rap and country to make songs that hit the heart.
2. How did Jelly Roll start his music career?
He dealt with an aggravated robbery charge early on. He launched his music career by teaming with rapper Lil Wyte and rapper Struggle Jennings. He also worked with the hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and with Krizz Kaliko on street tracks.
3. What are some notable songs by Jelly Roll?
He dropped Syrup in his early days. Later he scored hits like Somebody Save Me and Need a Favor. He also wrote Son of a Sinner and Beautifully Broken.
4. Has Jelly Roll won any awards?
He got a nod as New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards. His video Ballads of the Broken got nods for Male Video of the Year and Male Breakthrough Video of the Year at the award show CMT Music Awards.
5. What tours has Jelly Roll done?
He hit the road on the Backroad Baptism Tour. He played big stages and sold out smaller rooms like venue Whitsitt Chapel.
6. Where else can I see Jelly Roll?
He chatted with Jason Deford on the Dumb Blonde Podcast. He shared the stage with Lainey Wilson and teased a romance with Bunnie XO. He also dropped a cameo on the TV series Tulsa King.
