While Jelly Roll has successfully turned his life around, his past involvement in criminal activities presents obstacles for the country singer to embark on international tours.
Expressing his anticipation for performances outside the United States, the 39-year-old "Son of a Sinner" artist shared insights during a conversation with Jon Bon Jovi for Interview Magazine, published on June 5. He mentioned, "I'm so excited [to perform outside the United States]. We're figuring out the final pieces of some legal puzzles for me to get overseas."
He added that it was only fairly recent that he was able to secure a passport; but that does not mean he can already start performing overseas.
"It's funny, America has finally agreed to let me leave and give me a passport, but some countries won't let me come because of my felonies," he shared.
All hopes are not lost for international fans, because he also said, "We're working on that. I think it's going to work in my favor."
Born Jason Bradley DeFord and raised in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, Jelly faced legal troubles early in life.
He was first arrested at 14 and again at 16 for aggravated robbery, resulting in adult charges and a prison sentence of over a year, followed by seven years of probation.
Reflecting on his past, Jelly acknowledged the severity of his actions, stating in a 2023 interview with Billboard, "I never want to overlook the fact that it was a heinous crime. This is a grown man looking back at a 16-year-old kid that made the worst decision that he could have made in life and people could have got hurt and, by the grace of God, thankfully, nobody did."
Since his teenage years, the "Save Me" singer has encountered legal issues around 40 times, primarily related to drug offenses, including marijuana possession.
In a recent discussion about his perspective on marijuana, Jelly credited the substance for aiding his sobriety from harder drugs, which he battled for years. "I get in trouble for this, all the time, but my stance on marijuana will always be the same: I believe marijuana has helped me in so many regards, with my anxiety. This is a hot button topic, but, truly, marijuana has kept me sober," he conveyed to Taste of Country on May 24.
"I think a world without weed, Jelly Roll's drinking codeine and popping Xanax and snorting cocaine again, but a world with weed, I'll be alright."
Respecting differing viewpoints on sobriety, Jelly emphasized, "I know that I have friends that don't do that. I have friends that are in the program that are totally against any kind of mind-altering anything. I respect that. I have so much respect for those people. That's just not how my sobriety worked out."
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