Jelly Roll Opens Up About Daughter's Pain Amid Mother's Addiction Struggles

Country music star Jelly Roll, known off-stage as Jason DeFord, shared an emotional moment on "The Pivot" podcast when reflecting on the impact his 16-year-old daughter Bailee has endured due to her mother's struggle with addiction. The singer has been transparent about his own troubled past, including multiple arrests and battles with addiction, but this time, the focus was on his daughter’s heartbreak.

Bailee's mother, Felicia Beckwith, was recently arrested on felony drug charges, a revelation that Jelly Roll said deeply affected his daughter. "My child's mother has struggled with drug addiction since my daughter's been born, pretty much," he explained. "The addict is not the victim in that situation. The family is." Tough words, but undeniably raw and true.

The "Save Me" singer admitted he felt immense guilt for the spotlight his fame has cast on such private struggles, telling his wife, Bunnie XO, "I've invited the world into our living room... this is my fault more than anybody's." Fame may have its perks, but boy, does it come with a heavy price tag sometimes.

Jelly Roll described how seeing her mother’s mugshot devastated Bailee. "This is a 16, 17-year-old that knows her mother is a drug addict, but like, her having to see the mugshot... it broke her heart." He admitted becoming emotional as he shared, "She doesn’t have the tools yet to process this pain. It hurts her deeply." It’s a moment that highlights the collateral damage addiction causes, especially to the innocent bystanders.

Still, Jelly Roll noted Bailee’s resilience, revealing that humor is one way she copes with the situation. "We laugh about it... it’s kind of her way of humor-masking," he said, acknowledging her attempt to navigate grief in her own way. Not ideal, but hey, everyone’s got their survival strategy, right?

Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO have primary custody of Bailee, as well as the singer’s 8-year-old son Noah from another relationship. Reflecting on his own journey, the four-time Grammy nominee said, "I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for what I went through. I think it empowered me. It taught me a lot about overcoming." His testimony before Congress in January 2024 on the devastating impact of fentanyl was a testament to his commitment to advocacy.

Despite his self-described "horrible human" past, Jelly Roll has turned his life around and now uses his platform to inspire others. "To just be able to turn that around and give a message in the music and help people... is very indicative of where I came from." His story is proof that redemption isn’t just a concept; it’s a choice – one he’s made, and one he hopes others can make too.