Country music star Jelly Roll received a full pardon from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Thursday for previous criminal convictions dating back nearly two decades.
Jason DeFord, the artist known professionally as Jelly Roll, was pardoned after being previously convicted of robbery as a juvenile. He was granted parole in 2005 but was later found in possession of cocaine while on parole and charged with intent to sell the drug. DeFord was released from the Tennessee system in 2016 following a unanimous recommendation for pardon by the state’s Board of Parole earlier this year.
Governor Lee stated that Jelly Roll’s story was “remarkable, redemptive, and powerful,” emphasizing how the artist’s efforts to support youth struggling with substance abuse directly influenced the decision. Since his release, DeFord has used his platform to open a trauma-informed juvenile justice facility in Nashville and pay college tuition for students across Tennessee. He also testified before Congress last year advocating for legislation to address fentanyl distribution.
Lee cited Jelly Roll’s community interventions as the driving force behind the pardon, noting the artist’s tangible impact on local initiatives. In recent months, DeFord has gained additional attention for shedding over 200 pounds following a health crisis that prompted him to embark on his weight loss journey around his 39th birthday. The singer described feeling like he was “dying” before making the decision to change his lifestyle after surviving multiple heart issues and acknowledging he had “already cheated the game.”