Jelly Roll Gets Green Light from Tennessee Parole Board in Pursuit of Full Pardon

Jelly Roll, the Nashville hitmaker whose real name is Jason DeFord, just scored a big win in his bid for redemption. The Tennessee Board of Parole voted unanimously (with one member sitting it out) to recommend a full pardon for the 40-year-old musician, following a 45-minute hearing packed with testimony from supporters—including the Nashville sheriff himself.

After the vote, Jelly Roll called the moment "incredible," adding, "I pray this goes through. But today was special for me, regardless." It’s now up to Governor Bill Lee to make the final call on the pardon.

The rapper-turned-country star has never shied away from his rough past, which includes convictions for drug possession, dealing, shoplifting, and even aggravated robbery. His journey from a 14-year-old in juvenile detention to a chart-topping artist is nothing short of wild—he even admitted on Jay Shetty’s podcast that his teenage armed robbery made zero sense in hindsight. Talk about a plot twist.

While serving time, Jelly Roll turned things around: he joined Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, earned his GED, and embraced his faith. He even started writing music in prison—a "passion project" that changed his life and, honestly, the sound of country radio.

Since breaking into the big leagues in 2021 with his album "Ballad of the Broken," Jelly Roll has made a point of giving back. He regularly performs inside prisons and at rehab centers, helps feed the homeless, and donates to at-risk youth programs. He told the parole board he hopes a pardon will let him expand his outreach, including touring abroad and possibly doing missionary work well into his 50s and 60s.

One practical reason for the pardon? Crossing international borders. His criminal record makes gigs in places like Canada a legal headache—think teams of lawyers and mountains of paperwork just to secure entry. While he's managed a few international trips, the process is anything but smooth.

The parole board has been reviewing his application since October 2024—at least five years after his sentence officially ended. If Governor Lee signs off, Jelly Roll could soon be inspiring fans and at-risk youth from Nashville to London, minus the bureaucratic red tape.