Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll performing in 2014
Jelly Roll performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameJason Bradley DeFord[1][2]
Born (1984-12-04) December 4, 1984[3]
Antioch, Tennessee, U.S.[1]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2003–present
Labels
Spouse
Alyssa DeFord
(m. 2016)
Children2
Websitejellyroll615.com

Jason Bradley DeFord (born December 4, 1984), known professionally by his stage name Jelly Roll (often stylized as JellyRoll), is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Antioch, Tennessee. Beginning his career in 2003, he rose to mainstream prominence following the release of his 2022 singles "Need a Favor" and "Son of a Sinner," the latter of which won three CMT Music Awards.[5] That same year, he received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.

Early life

Jason DeFord was raised in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee.[6][7] His father was a meat salesman and worked as a bookie on the side; his mother suffered from mental illness and addiction.[8]

At age 14, he and several others were arrested and charged with multiple counts of possession of marijuana and attempted robbery.[9][8]

Career

Before his transition into country music, Jelly Roll launched his career in hip hop. After being inspired by rappers such as Three 6 Mafia, UGK, and 8Ball & MJG. He sold mixtapes out of his car,[8] starting with a string of releases from his first project The Plain Shmear Tape in 2003 then following with the four part Gamblin' on the White Boy series from 2004 to 2011.

His 2010 collaboration "Pop Another Pill" with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte reached over 6.3 million YouTube views.[10] This song led to the album Year Round by the hip-hop group SNO, of which Jelly Roll was a member. Over the next few years, Jelly Roll released many mixtapes and independent solo album including collaborations with Lil Wyte, Struggle Jennings, Haystak, and Tech N9ne.[11]

Jelly Roll's 2013 mixtape Whiskey, Weed, & Women was originally named Whiskey, Weed, & Waffle House,[6] but was later changed after the restaurant threatened legal action over the use of their name and logo on the cover. The replacement cover featured a "cease and desist" stamp in place of the Waffle House logo.[12][13]

Jelly Roll made his Grand Ole Opry debut on November 9, 2021.[14] On July 7, 2022, he was invited by country singer Craig Morgan to join him on stage at the Opry to perform "Almost Home".[15]

On May 9, 2022, Jelly Roll scored his first number one on rock radio with the track "Dead Man Walking".[16] In January 2023, Jelly Roll scored his first number-one song on Country radio with his debut country single "Son of a Sinner", written by Jelly Roll, Ernest and David Ray Stevens. The track was the second single from the 2021 album Ballads of the Broken and also peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. [17] In February 2023, he made history with a record-breaking 25th week at number 1 on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart.[18]

Jelly Roll sold out Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on December 9, 2022, to 15,000 fans and was joined by Chris Young, Sam Hunt, Riley Green, Shinedown, Ernest, Struggle Jennings, Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko.[19] In the summer of 2023, he completed a 44-city 'Backroad Baptism Tour'.[20]

At the 2023 CMT Music Awards, Jelly Roll won for Male Video of the Year, Male Breakthrough Video of the Year, and Digital-First Performance of the Year, all for the song "Son of a Sinner".[21][22]

Jelly Roll released his album Whitsitt Chapel featuring the single "Need a Favor" on June 2, 2023.[23]

In November 2023, Jelly Roll won the award for New Artist of the Year at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards.

In January 2024, Jelly Roll testified before congress in support of anti-fentanyl legislation. As a former distributor of illegal drugs Jelly Roll stated “I was a part of the problem. I am here now, standing as a man that wants to be a part of the solution". [24]

Personal life

Jelly Roll is married to Alyssa DeFord, a.k.a. Bunnie XO. He has one daughter born in 2008 and one son born in 2016 from previous relationships.[25] Jelly Roll earned his GED at the age of 23 while in jail.[8]

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Country Music Association Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Single of the Year – "Need a Favor" Nominated
New Artist of the Year Won
Music Video of the Year – "Need a Favor" Nominated
Musical Event of the Year – "Save Me" (with Lainey Wilson) Nominated
CMT Music Awards Male Video of the Year – "Son of a Sinner" Won [26]
Male Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Son of a Sinner" Won
CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year – "Son of a Sinner" (from "CMT All Access") Won
2024 Grammy Awards Best New Artist Pending
Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "Save Me" (with Lainey Wilson) Pending

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and sales figures
Title Studio album details Peak chart positions
US
[27]
US
Country

[28]
US
Rock

[29]
US R&B
[30]
US Rap
[31]
US Indie
[32]
US Heat.
[33]
CAN
[34]
Year Round
(with Lil Wyte and BPZ)
Strictly Business
(with Haystak)
  • Released: November 15, 2011
  • Label: Haystak, Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
67 16
The Big Sal Story
  • Released: October 26, 2012
  • Label: A-Game
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
No Filter
(with Lil Wyte)
  • Released: July 16, 2013
  • Label: Phixieous Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
33 17 42
Business As Usual
(with Haystak)
  • Released: November 19, 2013
  • Label: Haystak, Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
42 11
Sobriety Sucks
  • Released: May 13, 2016
  • Label: Bad Apple Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
42 48 12
No Filter 2
(with Lil Wyte)
  • Released: November 18, 2016
  • Label: Bad Apple Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
47
Addiction Kills
  • Released: April 21, 2017
  • Label: Bad Apple Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
22
Waylon & Willie
(with Struggle Jennings)
  • Released: November 3, 2017
  • Label: Struggle/Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
28 4
Waylon & Willie II
(with Struggle Jennings)
  • Released: March 23, 2018
  • Label: Struggle/Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
17 6
Waylon & Willie III
(with Struggle Jennings)
  • Released: November 16, 2018
  • Label: Struggle/Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
25 4
Goodnight Nashville
  • Released: December 7, 2018
  • Label: War Dog
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
46 12
Whiskey Sessions II
  • Released: April 5, 2019
  • Label: Jingle Punks
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
A Beautiful Disaster
  • Released: March 13, 2020
  • Label: War Dog
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
97 9
Self Medicated
  • Released: October 16, 2020
  • Label: War Dog
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
110 22
Waylon & Willie IV
(with Struggle Jennings)
  • Release date: December 16, 2020
  • Label: Struggle/Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Ballads of the Broken
  • Released: September 17, 2021
  • Label: BBR Music Group
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
157 41 21
Whitsitt Chapel
  • Released: June 2, 2023
  • Label: BBR Music Group
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
3 2 1 1 22
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Mixtape details
The Plain Shmear Tape
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Self-released (personal mixtape demo)
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Gamblin' on the White Boy Vol 1
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Crosstrax Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
The Halfway House
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Dope City Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Street Flavor (with Charlie P & Haystak)
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Street Flavor Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
House Arrest
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Gamblin' on the White Boy Vol 2
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Gamblin' on a Whiteboy Vol 3
  • Released: December 22, 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
The Hate Goes On
  • Released: July 1, 2009
  • Label: Forty West Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Therapeutic Music: The Bipolar Edition
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Bad Apple Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Therapeutic Music 2: The Inner Struggle
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Bad Apple Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Deal or No Deal
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Mr. Controversy
  • Released: June 7, 2010
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Eleven On The Come Out
  • Released: January 1, 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Gamblin' on a White Boy 4
  • Released: June 7, 2011
  • Label: Top $helf Investments
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
The Collection
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Therapeutic Music 3: Road To Vol. 4
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Bad Apple Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Therapeutic Music 4: Just My Thoughts
  • Released: 2012
  • Label: Bad Apple Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
White Trash Tale
  • Released: 2012
  • Label: A-Game
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Mid-Grade Miracle: The Boston George Story
  • Released: April 17, 2012
  • Label: A-Game
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Whiskey, Weed & Women
  • Released: August 6, 2013
  • Label: A-Game/Crash Out Music
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Biggest Loser
  • Released: March 11, 2014
  • Label: Crash Out Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Therapeutic Music 5
  • Released: December 4, 2015
  • Label: Bad Apple Inc.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details
Title EP details
Whiskey Sessions
  • Released: December 9, 2014
  • Label: Jingle Punks
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Crosses & Crossroads
  • Released: April 15, 2019
  • Label: War Dog
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[35]
US
Alt.

[36]
US
Country Songs

[37]
US
Country Airplay

[38]
US
Main.

[39]
US
Rock

[40]
CAN
[41]
CAN
Rock

[42]
WW
[43]
"Smoking Section" 2015 Therapeutic Music 5
"Hate Goes On" 2017 Addiction Kills
"Only"
"Wheels Fall Off"
"I'm on It"
(featuring Young Slugga, David Ray, and Brabo Gator)
2018 Non-album single
"Save Me"[45] 2020 [upper-alpha 1] Self Medicated
"Call It Quits"
(with Crypt and Adam Calhoun)
2021 Buried Alive
"Dead Man Walking" 29 1 30 38 Ballads of the Broken
"Son of a Sinner" 2022 31 8 1 4 61
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[44]
"Need a Favor" 13 39 3 1 1 1 36 31 139 Whitsitt Chapel
"Save Me"
(with Lainey Wilson)
2023 19 6 1 38
"Wild Ones"
(with Jessie Murph)
41 8 42 118 Non-album single
"Halfway to Hell"[48] 2024 Whitsitt Chapel
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
List of singles as featured artist, with showing year released
Title Year Album
"House of Mirrors"
(Hollywood Undead featuring Jelly Roll)
2023 Hotel Kalifornia
"Chevrolet"
(Dustin Lynch featuring Jelly Roll)
Killed the Cowboy
"Almost Home"
(Craig Morgan featuring Jelly Roll)
Enlisted

Promotional singles

List of promotional singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Dig.

[46]
US
Rock

[40]
"She" 2022 29 22 Whitsitt Chapel
"Unlive"
(with Yelawolf)
2023 27
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Other charted and certified songs

List of charted and certified songs, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certification Album
US
Bubbling

[49]
US
Country Songs

[37]
US
Rock

[40]
"Fall in the Fall"
(with Struggle Jennings)
2017 Waylon & Willie II
"Same Asshole" 2019 Crosses & Crossroads
"Creature"
(featuring Krizz Kaliko and Tech N9ne)
2020 A Beautiful Disaster
"Bottle & Mary Jane"
"Son of the Dirty South"
(Brantley Gilbert featuring Jelly Roll)
2022 48 So Help Me God
"Halfway to Hell" 2023 22339 Whitsitt Chapel
"The Lost" 32
"Behind Bars"
(with Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings)
36
"Hold on Me" 43
"Kill a Man" 44
"Whiskey Bent"
(Cody Johnson featuring Jelly Roll)
47 Leather
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Notes

  1. "Save Me" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 29 on the Digital Songs Sales chart.[46]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jelly Roll biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  2. "ADDICTION KILLS". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  3. Piccotti, Tyler (April 6, 2023). "8 Things You Might Not Know About "Son of a Sinner" Singer Jelly Roll". Biography. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Nicholson, Jessica (September 16, 2021). "Nashville Native Jelly Roll on Shifting From Hip Hop to Country-Rock: 'I Want to Change The Way Music Is Done on Those Streets'". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  5. Hall, Kristin (April 3, 2023). "'Son of a Sinner' Jelly Roll reigns at CMT Music Awards show". APNews. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Dodero, Camille (June 14, 2013). "The Story of the 450-Pound Rapper Who Loved Waffle House Too Much". Gawker.
  7. Dowling, Marcus K. (March 9, 2023). "Jelly Roll on his three 2023 CMT Music Award noms: 'A nomination calls for a celebration'". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 9, 2023. I'm just a kid from Antioch, Tennessee
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Meet Jelly Roll, the Rapper Turned Country Singer Rousing Nashville". The New York Times. April 26, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  9. Nicholson, Jessica (September 16, 2021). "Nashville Native Jelly Roll on Shifting From Hip Hop to Country-Rock: 'I Want to Change The Way Music Is Done on Those Streets'". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  10. "JellyRoll Feat. Lil Wyte POP ANOTHER PILL – YouTube". YouTube. March 19, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  11. Will, Ill (January 17, 2023). "JELLY ROLL ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TECH N9NE: 'HIS ENERGY IS SO PURE'". HipHopDX. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  12. Paine, Jake (April 5, 2013). "JellyRoll Responds To Waffle House Cease & Desist, New Mixtape Artwork & Title". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  13. Tishgart, Sierra (June 14, 2013). "Waffle House Screwed Over Its Biggest Fan, a Rapper Named Jelly Roll". Grub Street. New York Magazine. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  14. Decker, David (October 15, 2021). "Jelly Roll Blows the Roof off the Fillmore Auditorium". Digital Beat Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  15. Seller, Christine (July 7, 2022). "Craig Morgan Brings Jelly Roll To Tears With Heartfelt Gift At The Opry: "This Is A True Testimony That God Is Real"". Music Mayhem. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  16. Wendowski, Andrew (May 9, 2022). "Jelly Roll Scores First-Ever No. 1 Radio Hit With "Dead Man Walking": "The Losers Win Again Baby!"". Music Mayhem. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  17. Holthouse, Jerry (January 9, 2023). "Jelly Roll Scores His First Number One". Nashville.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  18. Zellner, Xander (February 8, 2023). "Jelly Roll Breaks Record for Most Weeks Spent at No. 1 on Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  19. Watts, Cindy (December 12, 2022). "JELLY ROLL SELLS OUT NASHVILLE'S BRIDGESTONE ARENA WITH CHRIS YOUNG, SAM HUNT, STRUGGLE JENNINGS AND MORE". cmt.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  20. Liptak, Carena (February 20, 2023). "Jelly Roll unleashes plans for Backroad Baptism Arena Tour". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  21. Lipshutz, Jason; Unterberger, Andrew (April 5, 2023). "Jelly Roll Keeps Winning After CMT Music Awards With Big 'Son of a Sinner' and 'Need a Favor' Gains". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  22. Respers France, Lisa (April 3, 2023). "Jelly Roll reigns among first-time winners at the CMT Music Awards". CNN. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  23. Patton, Alli (March 18, 2023). "Jelly Roll Confirms Highly Anticipated New Album "Whitsitt Chapel"". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  24. Shapero, Julia (January 11, 2024). "Jelly Roll urges Congress to pass anti-fentanyl legislation".
  25. Peake, Amber (May 28, 2021). "Who is Jelly Roll's wife, Bunnie? Rapper shares sweet family snap". The Focus. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  26. "Search winners: Lainey Wilson". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  27. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  28. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Top Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  29. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  30. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  31. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Top Rap Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  32. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  33. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  34. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Billboard Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  35. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  36. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  37. 1 2 "Jelly Roll Chart History: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  38. "Jelly Roll History: Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  39. "Jelly Roll History: Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  40. 1 2 3 "Jelly Roll History: Hot Rock & Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  41. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  42. "Jelly Roll: Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  43. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Billboard Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "American certifications – Jelly Roll". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  45. Carsten, Chad T. (October 4, 2021). "Jelly Roll's "Save Me" Single Independently Goes Gold!". Faygoluvers. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  46. 1 2 "Jelly Roll Chart History: Digital Songs Sales". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  47. "Canadian certifications – Jelly Roll". Music Canada. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  48. https://assets.countryaircheck.com/public/f6bdc58e-b873-46df-8ff7bf60b1e02426/smaller-CAP-12-2023.pdf
  49. "Jelly Roll Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
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