Jelly Roll Receives Life-Changing News

Over the years, country music superstar Jelly Roll has been very open about his criminal past and how it continues to affect him today, even as he has taken steps to change his life for the better. Now, those crimes will no longer follow him.

This week, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee officially pardoned the country music superstar for the crimes he committed when he was younger, which will give him more freedom in his career as he continues to perform across the world and share his story.

A Criminal Past

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, has spoken openly about his criminal past, which includes robbery and drug felonies.

The country music superstar has not shied away from his past, however, as he has spent the past several years telling his story nearly every chance he gets, whether it's on stage at his concerts or during a visit to a prison.

“When I first started doing this, I was just telling my story of my broken self,” he told The Associated Press in an interview. “By the time I got through it, I realized that my story was the story of many. So now I’m not telling my story anymore. I’m getting to pull it right from the crevices of the people whose story’s never been told.”

He's also used his platform to help advocate for changes as he even testified before the U.S. Senate about the dangers of fentanyl, describing his drug-dealing younger self as “the uneducated man in the kitchen playing chemist with drugs I knew absolutely nothing about.”

“I was a part of the problem,” he told lawmakers at the time. “I am here now standing as a man that wants to be a part of the solution.”

Seeking a Pardon

As a result of his criminal record, Jelly Roll has been unable to travel and perform overseas without burdensome paperwork and red tape. As a result, the country music superstar has been seeking a pardon from the state of Tennessee for the past several months.

“I want to be an inspiration for people who are now where I used to be — to let them know that change is truly possible,” Jelly Roll told the Tennessee Board of Parole earlier this year. “One of the reasons I’m asking for your recommendation for this pardon is because I’m looking to take my message of redemption through the power of music and faith through the rest of the world.”

Jelly Roll even indicated that he would use such a pardon to do missionary work later in his life following his music career.

“I’ll still be using this same pardon, God willing, to go do missionary work in my 50s and 60s,” he said.

Jelly Roll Receives His Pardon

The parole board began considering Jelly Roll’s pardon application in October 2024. This week, the country music star officially received that pardon as Gov. Bill Lee carried out his annual tradition of issuing clemency decisions around Christmas.

Jelly Roll was one of 33 people to receive a pardon. While he is obviously the most famous of the bunch, Lee said his application underwent the same monthslong thorough review as other applicants before the state parole board gave a unanimous recommendation for his pardon in April. However, the final decision still came down to Lee, who executed the pardon this week.

“His story is remarkable, and it’s a redemptive, powerful story, which is what you look for and what you hope for,” Lee told reporters via Fortune.

Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, who runs Nashville’s jail, expressed support for the decision.

“I think he has a chance and is in the process of rehabilitating a generation, and that’s not just words,” Hall told Fortune in a phone interview Thursday. “I’m talking about what I see we need in our country, is people who accept responsibility, accept the fact that they make mistakes and accept the fact that they need help.”

With the Pardon, Jelly Roll will have more freedom to travel the world with fewer restrictions.