Country star Jelly Roll has taken a significant step toward receiving a full pardon, as the Tennessee Board of Parole voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend clemency for the chart-topping artist.
The decision follows a 45-minute hearing attended by the singer, whose real name is Jason DeFord. One board member recused themselves, but the remaining members all supported the recommendation.
Following the vote, Jelly Roll was seen hugging Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, who originally submitted the pardon request to Governor Bill Lee over a year ago. Hall shared the emotional moment on social media, praising the board’s decision. The final say now rests with Governor Lee, who must approve the pardon under state law.
During the hearing, the Grammy-nominated performer spoke passionately about using his story to inspire others. “One of the reasons I’m asking for your recommendation is because I want to take my message of redemption to the rest of the world,” he told the board.
Jelly Roll has long been open about his troubled past, which includes over 40 arrests and a charge for aggravated robbery at age 16. In a previous interview with Billboard, he called the robbery the worst mistake of his life. His turning point came at age 23 with the birth of his daughter, Bailee, while he was incarcerated for drug-related offenses.
Since then, the artist behind hits like “Save Me” and “Liar” has become a vocal advocate for second chances and criminal justice reform. He frequently speaks at prisons, rehab centers, and schools, and earlier this year testified before Congress in support of efforts to combat fentanyl-related deaths.
Jelly Roll has also shared that he no longer uses hard drugs and now relies on marijuana as part of his effort to maintain sobriety. His transformation has allowed him to perform internationally, with his first overseas concert taking place in July 2024—something that had previously been hindered by his criminal record.
Now, with the board’s recommendation behind him, Jelly Roll awaits a decision from Governor Lee that could officially close the chapter on his troubled past.
