How Jelly Roll’s Felony Charge As A Teenager May Have Impacted His Career

Jelly Roll, the recently celebrated CMA Country Music Artist of the Year, rapper, singer, and songwriter, has undoubtedly carved a unique path in the music industry with his new raw talent and unapologetic storytelling. However, digging into his past reveals a shadow that may have cast a lasting impact on his career—a felony charge during his teenage years.

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Resilience and authenticity have been trademarks of Jelly Roll’s journey through the music business. His ability to translate life’s struggles into profound lyrics has resonated with fans worldwide. Yet, the specter of the aforementioned felony charge Jelly Roll has had since his younger days may have left an everlasting mark on his path to success. Let’s take a closer look at how Jelly Roll has navigated the challenges and stigma associated with his past.

Background On Jelly Roll’s Felony Charge And Criminal History

As a teenager, Jelly Roll faced legal troubles that led to a felony charge. While he has been transparent about his past, acknowledging mistakes and personal growth, the consequences of such an event can ripple through an artist’s career.

Jelly Roll was arrested for committing aggravated robbery when he was 16 years old. He faced charges as an adult and spent more than a year incarcerated, after which he was placed on probation for a period of seven years. In an interview with Billboard, he emphasized that he never wants to disregard the fact that it was a terrible crime.

Likewise, in a podcast with Joe Rogan, Jelly Role said, “We robbed a couple of guys for some weed, but they called the police because we took some money and stuff. It was an armed robbery; I mean, we went in there with a gun. I regret it every day of my life.”

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How Jelly Roll’s Felony Charge Has Affected His Career

Due to his felony charge, Jelly Roll has encountered challenges when it comes to touring internationally. Being convicted of a felony also restricts your ability to visit numerous other countries. Until recently, Jelly Roll could not even obtain a passport.

Even while sometimes obtaining the correct paperwork, Jelly Roll still faces challenges when it comes to arranging shows abroad, and he even had to cancel a performance in London due to the charge.

“The trick is, when America finally says, ‘We’ll let you leave,’ the amount of countries that won’t let you come in,” the singer shared. “We had to cancel my London debut show.” Not being able to perform for fans in other countries has limited Jelly Roll’s plans for expanding his career.

The Impact Jelly Roll’s Felony Charge Has Had On His Personal Life

Jelly Roll has been burdened with an un-expungable felony since his encounter with Tennessee’s zero-tolerance policy for violent offenders, which has affected him throughout his entire life. It has prevented him from acquiring houses, obtaining homeowner’s insurance, securing life insurance, and even volunteering at the YMCA.

Jelly Roll was unable to purchase his dream home, which was in a gated community. “Imagine changing your life in such a way that you can afford the kind of house in this community that I was looking at,” Jelly Roll stated. “My money was welcome, but I wasn’t, all because of something I did [almost] 24 years ago.”

Jelly Roll basically missed his entire high school career due to being in and out of jail. He was even behind bars when his daughter Bailee Ann was born. That really impacted him to make a change. It was the final slap in the face that made him wake up and take notice of what he was doing with his life.

The “The Son of a Sinner” singer is far from the only celebrity to have faced these types of charges. There have been quite a few notable stars who ended up in jail or prison. Martha Stewart, Robert Downey Jr., and quite a few rappers. Even some not as famous celebs have faced felony charges, like Zachary Ty Bryan from “Home Improvement” and Disney Channel star Kyle Massey had charges back in 2019.

A lot of celebrities are able to bounce back and recover from public disgrace, addictions, and police reports, but that doesn’t necessarily mean life is smooth on the professional side of things, and Jelly Roll is a perfect example of that.

How Jelly Roll’s Life Has Drastically Improved For The Better

Jelly Roll had the opportunity to tour with Shinedown on their 2022 summer/fall tour. This was an incredible exposure for him. Shortly after that tour started, his songs started getting played little by little on rock stations across the nation. Much like superstar Brantley Gilbert, who is featured on his track “Behind Bars”, Jelly spans genres. He can rap, sing country, and sound like rock-n-roll.

On June 2, 2023, Jelly Roll released his first studio album, Whitsett Chapel. Suddenly, it wasn’t just rock stations playing his music. Mainstream stations and country stations alike were eagerly playing his hits. That was it; Jason DeFord had officially made it. He did what he set out to do.

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As his star rises, Jelly Roll remains humble and never forgets where he came from. In fact, Taste of Country reports that he put a quarter of a million dollars into some programs for incarcerated youth in Nashville. He even spent part of the Thanksgiving holiday with them, where he said, “‘Look, y’all, I know a couple of you have been in here for a year or two, just like I was. I’m building a studio in here, and I’m building trade programs, and I got y’all’s back.”

Other good things in Jelly Roll’s life that happened after straightening out his life are getting custody of his daughter Bailee Ann back, his wife, Bunnie XO, and his net worth, which is now $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Then, of course, the cherry on top; CMA’s New Artist of the Year Award.

Source: NewsFinale