One of the newest names on the country music scene is Jelly Rolly! The genre-bending musician was nominated for his first Grammy, so take a look at this rising star.
Jelly Roll (b. Jason DeFord on December 4, 1984) is an American rapper, country singer, and rocker who has been making waves since the early 2010s. Hailing from the southside community of Antioch near Nashville, Tennessee, Jelly Roll grew up a troubled youth. He did three years in a juvenile detention center for robbery, and was charged with a felony when he was 21. After struggling with addiction issues, he cleaned his life up with the birth of his daughter. His natural storytelling and gift for music led him to begin a country rap career. He teamed frequently with fellow southern rapper Lil Whyte in his early career, and forged a friendship with Struggle Jennings (resulting in a quartet of collaborative albums.) In 2021, Jelly Roll released ‘Ballads of the Broken,’ which saw him focus more on singing than rapping. The album contained ‘Son of a Sinner,’ his first ever No. 1 country radio hit.
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Jelly Roll
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Jelly Roll hypes the crowd up at a concert. He sported a denim jacket, black t-shirt and gold chains.
March 28, 2023, 2:37PM 2 of 7
Jelly Roll ACM Awards
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Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo
Academy of Country Music Awards, Arrivals, Frisco, Texas, USA – 11 May 2023
May 11, 2023, 6:17PM 3 of 7
56th Annual CMA Awards
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Jelly Roll arrives at the 56th Annual CMA Awards, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Jelly Roll’s star was already on the rise at the 2022 event.
March 28, 2023, 2:37PM 4 of 7
Jelly Roll with his wife, Bunnie XO
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Jelly Roll, left, and Bunnie XO arrive at the 56th Annual CMA Awards, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Bunnie is the founder and host of the Dumb Blonde podcast.
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Jelly Roll x Tootsie (Roll?)
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Jelly Roll performs at Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge 60th Birthday Bash in 2021. It seems like a perfect fit.
March 28, 2023, 2:37PM
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Jelly Roll On The Field
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Mitchell Tenpenny and Jelly Roll appear at the Folds of Honor Rock n Jock Game in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2022 event featured many local musicians.
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Jelly Roll Is A Star
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Jelly Roll performs at Welcome to Rockville at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Jelly Roll has roots in rock, country, and hip-hop. He’s also a friend of The Rock.
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