Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord on December 4, 1984, in Antioch, Tennessee , is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper whose career is defined by one of the most striking redemption arcs in contemporary music. He began his career in the early 2000s within the Southern hip‑hop underground, selling mixtapes out of his car. Raised amid poverty, addiction, and instability, Jelly Roll spent much of his teens and twenties cycling in and out of jail, experiences that deeply shaped his lyrical voice. Rather than distancing himself from that past, he later made it central to his songwriting, focusing on guilt, faith, forgiveness, and survival.
Throughout the 2010s, Jelly Roll gradually shifted away from pure hip‑hop toward a hybrid sound that blended country, Southern rock, gospel, and rap. By mid‑decade, he had earned major industry recognition, including CMA New Artist of the Year and multiple Grammy wins in 2026, validating his transition from underground survivor to mainstream headliner.
In 2026, Jelly Roll is operating at full touring scale, balancing intimacy and spectacle in a way that mirrors his career. His year is anchored by extensive live performances across North America, split between headlining shows and high‑profile stadium appearances. As a featured artist on Post Malone ’s Big Ass Stadium Tour Part 2, Jelly Roll is performing in some of the largest venues of his career, including NFL and major college football stadiums throughout the spring and early summer.
