Jelly Roll Takes Step Towards Pardon

The Tennessee Board of Parole has recommended a full pardon for country star Jelly Roll.

Meeting Tuesday, the board voted unanimously — with one recusal — that Republican Gov. Bill Lee pardon the 40-year-old singer, whose real name is Jason DeFord. The vote — which is non-binding — came after nearly two hours of testimony on Jelly Roll’s behalf, including from Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, who has championed Jelly Roll’s case.

“This was incredible,” he said of the board’s decision, according to the Associated Press. “I pray this goes through. But today was special for me, regardless.”

DeFord was convicted of robbery at 17 and drug charges at 23. In the first case, a female acquaintance helped Jelly Roll and two other young men enter a house in 2002. Both of the others were carrying guns, although Jelly Roll was unarmed. They demanded money, and received $350 and a wallet with no money in it. Because the victims knew the female acquaintance, she and Jelly Roll were arrested right away. He was sentenced to serve a year in prison and additional time on probation.

In 2008, police found marijuana and crack cocaine in his car. He was sentenced to eight years of court-ordered supervision.

He also has two misdemeanor offenses for driving without a license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jelly Roll, who won Country Tour of the Year at the 2025 Pollstar Awards and then participated in a packed-house keynote Q&A with Live Nation CEO and President Michael Rapino during Pollstar Live!, has been open about his criminal past. He learned he became a father while incarcerated, a moment he describes as his “road to Damascus” moment. Rapino was among those who wrote a letter to the board in support of the pardon.

“I want to be an inspiration for people who are now where I used to be — to let them know that change is truly possible,” Jelly Roll told the board, according to the AP. “One of the reasons I’m asking for your recommendation for this pardon is because I’m looking to take my message of redemption through the power of music and faith through the rest of the world.”

He said he would use the pardon for much more than going on tour, though.

“I’ll still be using this same pardon, God willing, to go do missionary work in my 50s and 60s,” he said.

His criminal record has made it difficult for Jelly Roll to tour internationally. Canada, in particular, is very stringent on granting visas and work permits to foreign nationals with criminal records, though Jelly Roll was finally able to do a run of shows north of the border last year.