Jelly Roll is the stage name of Jason Bradley DeFord, an American singer, rapper, and songwriter born on December 4, 1984, in Nashville, Tennessee. He built his early career in Southern hip-hop before crossing into mainstream country music with hits like “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor,” and “I Am Not Okay.” 

His mother gave him the nickname Jelly Roll as a child, and it became his stage name once he started rapping in his teens. Jelly Roll spent years cycling through jail and addiction before turning his life into the redemption story that now defines his music. He has won CMT Music Awards, a CMA New Artist of the Year trophy, and three Grammys, making him one of the most recognized crossover artists working today.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Background

Jason DeFord grew up in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville. His father, Horace “Buddy” DeFord, ran a wholesale meat business and worked as a bookie on the side. His mother struggled with drug addiction and mental illness, but she also introduced him to music. She played George Strait and Garth Brooks around the house, and that sound shaped how he thought about songwriting.

Around age 9 or 10, DeFord wrote his first rap song. He told the Bobby Bones Show in May 2022 that he wanted his music to make people feel the way his mother’s favorite songs made her feel. By eighth grade, he was already handing out mixtapes in the high school parking lot.

His parents divorced when he was 13, and the household fractured soon after. Money got tight, and DeFord started selling drugs to help his mother. That decision set off a chain of legal trouble that would follow him for the next decade.

Family: Parents and Siblings

DeFord has three older half-siblings: brothers Roger and Scott, and a sister named Shelby. His father died of cancer in March 2019. DeFord has said his father taught him to reject racism and to carry himself like a man, and the two stayed close until Buddy’s death.

Education

DeFord attended Antioch High School in Nashville but did not graduate there. He later studied at Volunteer State Community College, where he earned an associate degree in sociology.

Prison, Addiction, and Legal Record

Arrests and Incarceration Timeline

DeFord was first arrested at age 14. Over the next ten years, he cycled in and out of the Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility on charges ranging from drug possession to shoplifting. At 16, he was charged as an adult for aggravated robbery and faced up to 20 years in prison. He ultimately served a little over a year and received seven years of probation.

At 23, he was incarcerated again for drug dealing. While behind bars, he earned his GED and was released in 2009. In total, he has said he went to jail 40 times.

Legal Record and Ongoing Restrictions

Because Tennessee enforces a zero-tolerance policy for violent offenders, DeFord’s aggravated robbery conviction stayed on his record for years. That record barred him from voting, volunteering at nonprofits, or owning a firearm. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee pardoned him for his past convictions in December 2025, closing a chapter he has spent his entire career writing about.

Substance Abuse and Recovery

DeFord has spoken openly about abusing cough syrup, Xanax, and cocaine during his teens and twenties. Jail became the turning point. He committed to sobriety and rebuilt his life through music, discipline, and family support. Today he visits rehabilitation centers to talk with people working through addiction of their own.

Music Career

Early Mixtapes and Rap Career

DeFord released his first project, The Plain Shmear Tape, in 2003. He followed it with a string of independent mixtapes influenced by Three 6 Mafia, UGK, and 8Ball & MJG. His 2010 collaboration with Lil Wyte, “Pop Another Pill,” went viral on YouTube and became his breakout moment as an underground rapper.

He kept building through collaborations with Haystak and Struggle Jennings, releasing albums like Strictly Business and the four-part Waylon & Willie series. One 2013 mixtape, originally titled Whiskey, Weed, and Waffle House, had to be renamed after Waffle House threatened legal action over the logo on its cover.

“Save Me” and the Transition to Country

In May 2020, DeFord wrote and released “Save Me,” a song stripped of any rap elements. Its raw vulnerability caught the attention of BMG Nashville president Jon Loba, who signed him almost immediately. That signing pulled DeFord out of the underground rap scene and into mainstream country music.

Chart Milestones and Grand Ole Opry Debut

DeFord made his Grand Ole Opry debut on November 9, 2021. His 2021 album Ballads of the Broken produced “Son of a Sinner,” which topped the Country Airplay chart in January 2023. By February of that year, he had spent 25 weeks atop Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, a record at the time.

Whitsitt Chapel and Grammy Nominations

His 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and produced “Need a Favor.” That September, he earned five CMA nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year, and later won New Artist of the Year. His first two Grammy nominations followed, for Best New Artist and Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Beautifully Broken and Grammy Wins

Beautifully Broken arrived in mid-October 2024 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, “I Am Not Okay,” dealt directly with mental health struggles. At the 2026 Grammys, DeFord won three trophies: Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Shaboozey for “Amen,” and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake.

Full Discography

• The Big Sal Story (2012)
• Sobriety Sucks (2016)
• Addiction Kills (2017)
• Goodnight Nashville (2018)
• Whiskey Sessions II (2019)
• A Beautiful Disaster (2020)
• Self Medicated (2020)
• Ballads of the Broken (2021)
• Whitsitt Chapel (2023)
• Beautifully Broken (2024)

Most Popular Songs

Fans consistently point to “Save Me,” “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor,” and “I Am Not Okay” as his defining tracks. Each one leans on the same formula: honest lyrics about pain paired with a voice built for arenas.

Awards and Achievements

DeFord won three CMT Music Awards in April 2023 for “Son of a Sinner,” including Male Video of the Year. That November, he took home CMA New Artist of the Year. His 2026 Grammy sweep added to a trophy case that already included nominations from the iHeartRadio Music Awards and People’s Choice Awards.

Business Ventures and Labels

DeFord’s music runs through several labels, including Slumerican, BBR, and BMG. Beyond touring and streaming, his income comes from merchandise, brand partnerships, and endorsements. He owns a 500-acre farm in Tennessee along with two homes in Orlando, Florida, where he has trained for his WWE appearances.

TV, Film, and WWE Appearances

DeFord made his TV acting debut on Tulsa King alongside Sylvester Stallone in September 2024. He later appeared on Fire Country and joined the judging panel of Netflix’s rebooted Star Search alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and Chrissy Teigen.

He also stepped into professional wrestling with WWE, debuting at SummerSlam 2024, where he delivered a chokeslam and chair shot to Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. He returned for SummerSlam 2025 in a tag match alongside Randy Orton against Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul, and he picked up his first in-ring win against Kit Wilson on SmackDown in March 2026.

Wife, Marriage, and Divorce

Meeting Bunnie XO and Marriage Timeline

DeFord met Bunnie XO, born Alisa DeFord, at a concert in Las Vegas in 2015. He proposed to her during a Yelawolf and Deftones show on August 31, 2016, and the two married at a courthouse that same night. 

Bunnie hosts the popular Dumb Blonde podcast and has built her own following as a model and social media personality. The couple briefly split in 2018 before reconciling and renewing their vows in 2023.

2026 Divorce and IVF Plans

In June 2024, the couple announced they were exploring having a child together through IVF. Bunnie confirmed in March 2025 that she had begun treatment. Just over a year later, DeFord filed for divorce in Williamson County, Tennessee, on May 18, 2026, citing irreconcilable differences after nearly ten years of marriage.

Children

DeFord has two children from relationships before his marriage to Bunnie. His daughter, Bailee Ann, was born in 2008 to Felicia Beckwith, and his son, Noah Buddy, was born in 2016 to Melisa Ann Cowell. DeFord has said he handles most parenting decisions for Bailee directly, while he takes a more supportive role in Noah’s upbringing out of respect for Noah’s mother.

Weight Loss Journey

At his heaviest, DeFord weighed around 540 pounds. He began working toward change in 2016 and lost 200 pounds before regaining some of it. By January 2024, he had started training for a 5K race and had dropped more than 70 pounds. He completed that race in May 2024 with plans to run a half marathon next.

By April 2025, he was down to 357 pounds. By February 2026, his total weight loss reached nearly 300 pounds, and he achieved a personal goal of appearing on the cover of Men’s Health.

Christian Faith and Personal Growth

DeFord was baptized at 14, though he drifted from the church around the same time he started using drugs. He returned to his faith later in life after his daughter expressed interest in getting baptized herself. He has said he has a heart for God and for Jesus, even if his approach to faith looks different from how other Christians practice it.

Congressional Testimony and Advocacy

In January 2024, DeFord testified before the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee in support of anti-fentanyl legislation. Speaking as a former distributor of illegal drugs, he told lawmakers he was part of the problem and now wants to be part of the solution. He has also donated a recording studio to the juvenile detention center where he was once held.

Net Worth

DeFord’s net worth is estimated at around $20 million as of 2026. His wealth comes primarily from touring, streaming royalties, merchandise sales, and brand partnerships tied to his music career.

Quotes

DeFord has described himself as proof that “losers can win,” and he often repeats the line that the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason. He has also said his approach to music will keep pushing boundaries as long as he keeps making it.

Conclusion

Jelly Roll’s story runs from a Nashville jail cell to a Grammy stage, and very few artists in country music can claim that same arc. His music sells because his past is real, not because it makes for a good headline. 

Whether he is testifying before Congress, wrestling on WWE television, or working through a public divorce, DeFord keeps building his career the same way he built it from the start: by being honest about where he came from.

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FAQs

Who is Jelly Roll’s real name? 

Jelly Roll’s real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, and he began using the stage name Jelly Roll after his mother’s childhood nickname for him stuck.

How old is Jelly Roll? 

Jelly Roll was born on December 4, 1984, which makes him 41 years old in 2026.

Why was Jelly Roll in jail? 

Jelly Roll was arrested more than 40 times starting at age 14, including a serious aggravated robbery charge at 16, before receiving a pardon from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in December 2025.

Are Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO divorced? 

Jelly Roll filed for divorce from Bunnie XO, whose legal name is Alisa DeFord, in Williamson County, Tennessee, on May 18, 2026, citing irreconcilable differences.

What is Jelly Roll’s net worth? 

Jelly Roll’s net worth is estimated at around $20 million as of 2026, built mainly through touring, streaming, and merchandise.

How much weight has Jelly Roll lost? 

Jelly Roll has lost close to 300 pounds since starting his weight loss journey, down from a peak weight of around 540 pounds.

Why is Jelly Roll called “Jelly Roll”? 

Jelly Roll’s mother gave him the nickname as a child because he was a chubby kid, and it stuck as his stage name once he started rapping.

Has Jelly Roll won a Grammy? 

Jelly Roll won three Grammys at the 2026 ceremony, including Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken.