Who is rapper Jelly Roll and what is his real name?
JELLY Roll is an award-winning rapper-turned-country-singer-songwriter famous for his 2021 hit Son of a Sinner.
The American performer has had a glittering career in music and released a documentary in 2023 - here's everything we know about him.
Who is Jelly Roll?
Jelly Roll is an American rapper and country singer-songwriter.
He was born on December 4, 1986, and grew up in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee.
He started out his career in hip-hop and transitioned to country music in 2021.
His lyrics and music are a blend of old-school rap, country, and classic rock.
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In an interview in 2022 at Tortuga Festival, he said: "I'm loving it, I've never felt more welcomed anywhere.
"I was born and raised in Nashville so [country music] is always second nature to me. It's incredible."
In January of 2024, the star made the news as he urged lawmakers to pass anti-fentanyl legislation.
He drew on his own past experience with substance abuse in an effort to help save lives.
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Jelly Roll testified in front of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
He said in his opening remarks: "I was a part of the problem. I am here now, standing as a man that wants to be a part of the solution."
In an interview with PEOPLE, Jelly spoke about his fitness and weight loss journey in preparation for the 2 Bears 5K with Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura, which will be at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on May 7, 2024.
He stated: "I'm probably down 70-something pounds. I've been really kicking ass, man. I'm doing two to three miles a day, four to six days a week.
"I'm doing 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna, six minutes in a cold plunge every day. I'm eating healthy right now."
What is Jelly Roll's real name?
Jelly Roll's real name is Jason Bradley DeFord.
He is known professionally as Jelly Roll (sometimes written JellyRoll).
Speaking on The Bobby Bones Show he revealed that Jelly Roll was the name his mother gave him when he was a young, "chubby kid" and it stuck with him.
What are Jelly Roll's most popular songs?
Jelly Roll's collaboration Pop Another Pill with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte in 2010 reached over 6.3 million YouTube views.
The rapper has released numerous mixtapes including Gamblin' On A Whiteboy series and the Therapeutic Music series.
In October 2012, He independently released his debut solo album.
In 2013 Jelly Roll's mixtape Whiskey, Weed And Women, was originally named Whiskey, Weed And Waffle House, but was changed after the restaurant threatened legal action.
The song Come Here White Girl was listed as "The Most Memorable White Rapper Collaboration" by XXL.
Switching genres, his country song Son of a Sinner released in 2021 was part of his album Ballads Of The Broken.
It is regarded as one of his best songs ever released.
In June of 2023 Jelly Roll released his debut country album called Whitsitt Chapel.
The 13-track project was a great success.
It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Album Charts and Top 3 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart with 90,000 album equivalents.
Sharing his reaction to social media, Jelly Roll wrote: “Thank y’all! WE DID IT!
"Y’all came through for me like you always do.. another big step in the right direction for the underdogs … I woke up and couldn’t believe it! Thank y’all again… wow wow wow wow ….”
What is Jelly Roll's net worth?
The rapper's net worth is estimated at $4 million.
He has earned his fortune from albums, music videos, touring, and his online merchandise store.
His YouTube channel is estimated to make around $2 million a year.
Highlighting his success, Jelly Roll released a debut a Hulu documentary in May 2023 — days before his country album was released.
The documentary named Jelly Roll: Save Me highlighted how the artist coped with his addiction and mental health struggles throughout his rise in popularity.
It was popular among viewers with an 8.1 rating on IMDb and a 94 percent audience score on popular film critic Rotten Tomatoes.
Is Jelly Roll married and does he have any children?
Jelly Roll married Bunny Xo on August 31, 2016.
The pair first met in 2015 when he was performing on Fremont Street in Las Vegas at the Country Saloon.
Born on January 22, 1980, Bunny is an entrepreneur, podcast host, model, and YouTuber.
Jelly Roll has a daughter named Bailee from a previous relationship.
He has said that Bailee is responsible for changing his life, as prior to her birth on May 22, 2008, he had been in and out of prison.
Jelly Roll's son, Noah Buddy DeFord, also from a previous relationship, was born in 2016.
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Despite having high-profile parents, little information is available about his kids as they keep them off social media platforms, and away from the spotlight.
On May 30, 2023, a documentary on him and his journey, Save Me, was released on Hulu.