From Prison to the Pope: Jelly Roll's Redemptive Rise to Stardom

Jelly Roll - Jason Bradley DeFord BioSnap a weekly updated Biography. Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord, has just witnessed a remarkable run of headline-making personal and professional moments that have fans and critics buzzing. The transformation is almost cinematic: in the past week alone, the Nashville-born rapper turned country star appeared at the Vatican’s St. Peter's Square performing at the Grace for the World concert alongside artists like Pharrell Williams, John Legend, Karol G, and Jennifer Hudson. More stunningly, he met Pope Leo XIV in person—a moment immortalized on his Instagram with the caption from rock bottom to holy ground referencing his journey from prison to international stages. That photo, a beaming Jelly Roll shaking hands with the pope, ricocheted across social media, with the artist citing Matthew 18:20 and fans and faith outlets marveling at the arc of redemption. Aleteia highlighted the emotional weight of his transition, noting that in April the Tennessee Board of Parole recommended a gubernatorial pardon for his past crimes, which, if granted, could soon allow him to freely carry his message of faith and recovery worldwide. But spiritual milestones haven’t replaced Jelly Roll’s trademark candor about his struggles, especially with weight. This week, he sent the internet into a frenzy with slick new Instagram photos showing off his nearly 200-pound weight loss, achieved through a strict routine of diet, regular exercise, and sauna sessions. Jelly Roll celebrated publicly that he can now fit into a Louis Vuitton outfit—flexing a black and blue designer look that had both fans and fellow celebrities like Machine Gun Kelly and Yelawolf dropping praise in the comments. As Parade reports, he quipped Pray for my bank account, in reference to his shiny new fashion choices. Meanwhile, the personal life chatter continued, with wife Bunnie XO shutting down backlash over a social media video showing her with wine, explaining on her Dumb Blonde podcast that her addiction issues were about drugs, not alcohol, and reassuring fans she’s secure in her sobriety journey. On the business front, Jelly Roll’s global ascent is real: after Vatican City, he performed with Post Malone by satellite at the 2025 MTV VMAs and has a run of concerts in London with Malone, followed by an Australian tour and then a sweep through Mexico. With every share, stage, and personal revelation, Jelly Roll is cementing one of the most compelling and redemptive arcs in recent music history. Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI