Jelly Roll Spent Years in Prison Before Rising to Fame — Here's Why

Before rising to fame, Jelly Roll hit rock bottom when he spent time in prison.

Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord, waited for years before savoring success in the music industry. Even before he debuted as a musician, he had already faced struggles as a child.

When the "NEED A FAVOR" singer was 14, he committed a crime that landed him in jail for the first time. He was yet to graduate high school at the time, and he spent the next years in and out of facilities due to different charges, including drug possession, aggravated robbery, shoplifting and drug dealing.

At 16, Jelly Roll was arrested for aggravated robbery and charged when he committed robbery with a gun.

"I never want to overlook the fact that it was a heinous crime," he told Billboard. "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."

He only served over a year of his eight-year prison sentence. Still, his charge remains on his record due to Tennessee's zero-tolerance policy for violent offenders.

This has prevented Jelly Roll from getting a passport and traveling abroad.

After his release from prison in 2008, he learned he had fathered his daughter, Bailee Ann.

Despite his rollercoaster beginnings, Jelly Roll soon found his spotlight in the industry when his first major label album, Ballad of the Broken, made him appear on rock and country charts.

He has also received countless awards over the years, even sweeping recognitions at the 2024 CMT Music Awards and bringing home Male Video of the Year, CMT Performance of the Year and Video of the Year.

Jelly Roll spoke with Fox News Digital ahead of the 2023 CMAs, during which he recalled the darkest moments in his life.

"I wouldn't be the man I am today if it wasn't for what I went through. I think it empowered me. I think it gave me my voice," he said. "It taught me a lot about overcoming. It taught me a lot about changing and the ability to change."

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