Jelly Roll’s Possible Pardon: Singer’s Reaction to Robbery, Drug Charges Update

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Jelly Roll may have just gotten the favor he needed.

On April 22nd, the Tennessee Board of Parole made a united decision to propose a presidential pardon for the singer known as “Lonely Road.” This is based on crimes he had committed more than two decades ago, as reported by The Associated Press. However, the ultimate decision – whether to grant a pardon, commute his sentence to expunge his criminal record, or refuse the pardon – lies with Governor Bill Lee, as stated by NBC News. In other words, it is Governor Lee who has the power to either grant Jelly Roll (whose real name is Jason DeFord) a pardon, reduce his sentence, or decline the proposal.

The Nashville native, who served a year in jail following a robbery conviction at seventeen and faced drug charges at twenty-three, expressed this to AP after the vote: “This was truly remarkable.” He added, “I hope it passes. However, today held a unique significance for me, regardless.

The state’s governor noted that Jelly Roll’s pardon was not yet a foregone conclusion.

Lee stated, “The updates about Jelly Roll’s case are hopeful, but there are still some procedures left to be completed.

Apologies for the formal tone, let me rephrase that in a more conversational style: You know Jelly Roll, who’s always been upfront about his previous criminal history and often visits prisons and rehab centers during tours? Well, having him able to travel more freely internationally while on tour would be beneficial.

The Grammy-nominated artist, who’s married to Bunnie Xo, expressed this sentiment: “I aspire to serve as a beacon of hope for those in situations similar to mine in the past—to show them that transformation is indeed achievable.” He shared this with the board, explaining, “I am seeking your endorsement for this pardon because I wish to spread my message of redemption through music and faith on a global scale.

Presently, he clarified, the process of gaining permission to visit Canada and other foreign nations involves “requiring a team of legal professionals and an extensive amount of documentation for them to grant me access.

For Jelly Roll, whose children include Bailee (16) with ex Felicia Beckwith and Noah (8) with ex Melisa Ann Cowell, the longing to traverse the world goes beyond enhancing his performance tours. He also harbors a wish to contribute significantly for many years to come.

Speaking as the artist famously known for “I Am Not Okay,” who’s barred from voting due to past legal issues, he expressed, “With divine luck, I plan on employing this same pardon to serve as a missionary in my 50s and 60s.

As reported by NBC News, Jelly Roll spent most of his teenage years and young adulthood behind bars, between ages 14 and 25. He was freed from prison in 2016, as confirmed by records examined by the news organization.

The artist attributes his time in prison, where he welcomed his eldest daughter 17 years ago, as not just a catalyst for honing his songwriting and rapping abilities, but also as a mirror that compelled him to reconsider his past deeds and adopt new behaviors.

He mentioned on the “SmartLess” podcast last month that at that time, he only had one set of clothes that he wore while he was imprisoned. He also had no money whatsoever; he was in fact deep in debt. It was a moment of the utmost honesty, introspection, and self-reflection that I have ever experienced in my life.

As Jelly Roll addresses his future, keep reading to look back at his relationship with Bunnie XO…

The love story between Bunnie XO and Jelly Roll originated in Las Vegas. As she shared on the podcast ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’, she encountered the singer in August 2015 at the Las Vegas Country Club when he was performing, before he gained fame. At that time, he was living in a van, and only around 20 people were present for the show.

However, their connection stood out.

“When I met him,” Bunnie said on the podcast in 2023, “my soul just said, ‘There you are.'” Despite not being each other’s typical type – she was more into Taylor Swift while he loved her – a romance didn’t immediately blossom. Bunnie was involved in an unhealthy relationship, and Jelly Roll was busy with his own pursuits. But they reconnected in October 2015. And as Bunnie put it, she was “just smitten.”

After her ex went to prison, she gave her friend permission to provide Jelly Roll with her phone number. He would call and text her for advice on his daughter Bailee from a previous relationship.

However, Bunnie noted that their relationship transitioned from a friendship to romance in July 2016 when he returned to Vegas to film videos. They slept together while “shit-faced drunk,” she recalled.

“We were discussing our future plans,” she remembered. “He asked me about my five-year plan, and this guy just said, ‘OK, cool. Let’s do it.’

Bunnie revealed that they got married a month after their initial conversation, which took place on ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’. She disclosed that the wedding occurred at Las Vegas’ Stained Glass Wedding Chapel in August 2016. Bunnie and Jelly Roll completed their five-year plan by tying the knot and achieving other milestones such as buying their own house.

Another goal of Bunnie’s was to create her own podcast. When she exited the sex work industry, Jelly Roll stated on ‘The Howard Stern Show’ in June 2024, that he asked her about her passions, and she expressed a desire to host a talk show.

Bunnie departed from the sex work industry in 2019 and launched the ‘Dumb Blonde’ podcast later that year. She used some of the money she had earned to support Jelly Roll’s aspirations, such as helping him with his ‘Addiction Kills’ album and assisting him in obtaining custody of his daughter.

On Sofia Franklyn’s podcast ‘Sofia with an F’, Bunnie mentioned that she invested in Jelly Roll’s 2017 ‘Addiction Kills’ album and aided him in securing custody of his daughter.

In the year 2008, Jelly Roll’s child, Bailee, was born while he was serving time in prison for drug trafficking. In his 2023 documentary titled “Jelly Roll: Save Me,” he expressed that Bailee’s arrival turned his life around, even though she was too young to understand it at the time.

Bailee joined her father’s life when she was just two years old, as he was embarking on his music career and residing in a van. Despite admitting that he wasn’t a very active father during those early days, things changed when he sought full custody of Bailee amid her mother’s struggle with addiction.

In the documentary, it was revealed that Bailee’s mother paid for an attorney to help secure Jelly Roll’s custody, and together they decided to make significant changes in their lives.

As Bunnie put it on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast, “Who were we to take her away from her mom and bring her into our home if we were just as lost? What makes us better?” This realization led both Jelly Roll and Bunnie to turn their lives around. Bunnie shared that she quit using drugs after this moment, stating, “I was just like, ‘This is it. I’m done.’ And I never touched a pill again.”

Bunnie also assumed a maternal role in Bailee’s life. For Bailee’s Sweet 16 birthday in 2024, Bunnie wrote on social media, “Thank you Papa Roll for giving me the opportunity to be the mother I never had. But most importantly—Thank you to the sweetest, sassiest 16-year-old for teaching me some of the most healing life lessons ever these past 8 years and allowing me to be your mama.

In August 2016, just before Jelly Roll got married to Bunnie and while he was pursuing custody of Bailee, they welcomed their son Noah into the world. The “Need a Favor” artist expressed his joy on Facebook after the birth, writing, “God Bless this Child to be everything I am not!” He also prayed that neither Noah nor Bailee would have to suffer because of his mistakes.

Over the years, Jelly Roll and Bunnie have kept most aspects of Noah’s life private, but they occasionally share glimpses into it. For example, in July 2023, Bunnie posted a TikTok where she asked Noah questions about his favorite sport (soccer) and activities at the beach (playing in the water). She made sure to mention that she had sought permission from his mother before posting the video.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll maintain a good relationship with Noah’s mother, who they consider an important part of their lives. In a 2023 Facebook post, Bunnie praised her for being a strong woman, stating, “she holds it down for baby Noah & us especially because we are on the road so much.”

Bunnie also expressed her gratitude for being Noah’s stepmother in an Instagram post in October 2024 after he attended one of his father’s shows. She wrote, “Nothing brings me more joy than getting to watch my bonus babies grow up. I’m not one to get emotional but just being in this little boy’s life since the day he was born is such a privilege. Thankful for his mama as well.

Two years after tying the knot in 2016, Jelly Roll and Bunnie parted ways. Yet, their enduring affection refused to let them drift apart, and they rekindled their relationship later that same year. In a TikTok post from February 2023, Bunnie penned, “Who would have thought our separation in 2018, me moving back to Las Vegas, and you coming for me – would embark us on this life’s rollercoaster journey. We finally honored our commitment to one another, fulfilling every promise we made that first night in 2016. Our sandcastle had to crumble so we could rebuild on a firm foundation. I love you so much.

As Jelly Roll’s fame grew, he and Bunnie made their debut on the red carpet together at the 2022 CMA Awards. In the documentary “Jelly Roll: Save Me,” she commented, “We’re like the Addams Family of the country era. We don’t really fit in, but we’re here nonetheless.

In 2023, seven years after their initial wedding ceremony, Jelly Roll and Bunnie renewed their marriage vows. Reflecting on their first wedding day, the podcaster reminisced in a tribute how the Grammy nominee had assured her, “Bunnie, our lives won’t always be like this. You won’t have to keep doing what you do for much longer; we’ll find a way.” True to his word, he fulfilled that promise.

“I didn’t know what the future held for us,” Bunnie shared in her September 2023 message, “but I didn’t mind as long as you were by my side to face it. These past seven years have been a tumultuous fairy tale. Nothing we’ve achieved together as partners and friends was easy. We struggled to overcome our childhood traumas, learn to love healthily, and set things right after making mistakes. Together, we built a home that Bailee can take pride in. No matter what life threw at us, we walked through it hand in hand, smiling.”

They’ll continue to walk together.

“You are the missing piece of my puzzle,” Bunnie acknowledged Jelly Roll. “My sanctuary. The man who makes me dance in my femininity. My best friend, my hero, and the greatest man I’ve ever known. They don’t make men like you anymore, Jason DeFord.

1. The duo maintains a peaceful coexistence, and Bunnie has played an influential role in Jelly Roll’s songwriting. To be specific, she inspired several of his songs such as “Woman” and “Kill a Man.”
2. In the words of the country music icon himself, speaking to Entertainment Tonight about “Kill a Man,” he said, “She’s the best, man.” He explained that he had struggled to write 1,000 love songs, finding them all a tad corny. But when it came to expressing his deep-seated affection for Bunnie, he wanted to create something authentic and vulnerable.
3. As for the track, he admitted, “I don’t see any other woman on Earth but her, and I wanted to write a song that mirrored my feelings and was honest.”
4. It is worth noting that Jelly Roll and Bunnie collaborated in the music videos for both “Wheels Fall Off” and “Lonely Road,” featuring Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but cheer for Jelly Roll, whether it’s from the crowd or at home. In a heartfelt tribute penned for his 2024 CMT Music Awards, I affectionately referred to him as “my sweet husband, the visionary, the maestro of misfits.”

His success isn’t an overnight phenomenon; it’s been two decades in the making. This journey has seen days when we doubted if anyone was listening to his music, only for those nights to transform into packed arenas.

I’ve watched him pour his heart and soul into his songs, writing hymns of therapy for the broken, hymns that find their way straight into their hearts. His music is therapeutic, a gentle kiss on the cracks of their souls, a moment when they feel understood and seen.

Our bond through this journey is a melody to fans’ ears. In my tribute, I expressed, “Papabear, your voice is an instrument of healing, and the world is your choir.” I LOVE YOU IN THIS LIFETIME AND EVERY OTHER ONE I’M LUCKY TO BE BY YOUR SIDE IN.

Of course, Jelly Roll reciprocates his support for me too. In a message for our eighth anniversary, he wrote, “Watching what you have built on social media and with your podcast is amazing. To see the way you inspire people, especially other women, makes my heart want to explode with joy.

Let me be crystal clear: If you cross Bunnie XO, especially when it comes to her partner, there’s no room for misunderstanding – she won’t send love and affection your way.

Recently, I’ve had to defend my husband, Jelly Roll, against hurtful online comments about his weight. In an episode of ‘Dumb Blonde’ in April 2024, I shared how tired he is of being targeted on the internet and how it makes me emotional because he truly is a kind-hearted soul.

Jelly Roll may not always show how these comments affect him, but they undeniably take their toll. People think that celebrities should be able to handle such negativity, but let me tell you – we’re not immune to the pain it causes.

The internet can be a harsh place where people feel empowered to say things they wouldn’t dare utter in person. But remember this: bullying is never acceptable, no matter who the target may be.

I want to emphasize that I will always stand up for those being bullied. The underdogs are my people, and you won’t find me backing down when it comes to defending myself or my loved ones from such behavior.

So, let this serve as a reminder: Bullying is never acceptable, and I won’t tolerate it. Stand up for each other, be kind, and remember that everyone has their battles to fight behind closed doors.

Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie, have been transparent about their attempts to expand their family. After the “Son of a Sinner” star disclosed that they had discussed having a child, Bunnie detailed their steps in an Instagram post on June 2024.

“We initially intended to keep this private,” Bunnie wrote, “but we’ve decided our IVF process should be shared because we’ve always been so open. Despite the odds being against us, it’s already been tough and we’re only just getting started.”

Still, they maintain hopefulness.

“We have been consulting with fertility specialists and examining all our options to grow our family,” Bunnie continued. “Jelly and I are both excited and scared at the same time. We never thought we’d want to expand our family, but something changed this year and we now yearn for a part of us together to enrich our already wonderful family with Bailee and Noah.

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2025-04-23 20:48