Tennessee Governor Bill Lee gave Jelly Roll a Christmas gift he won’t soon forget …. a pardon.
Jelly Roll, whose birth name is Jason DeFord, has been open about his past and how he has transformed his life. DeFord petitioned for a pardon in 2024, requesting that the state grant him clemency for past felony charges. He argued that the charges hindered him from touring in other countries.
In a recent interview with Joe Rogan, Jelly Roll expressed his desire to hunt and own a firearm, something he isn’t able to do as a convicted felon. He also told the host that he was hopeful that he would be pardoned by the Governor.
“This is a slippery slope for me. “I am up for a pardon this year. My paperwork has been sent to my governor, and he considers pardons every December. So, every day, I’m just kind of praying,” Jelly told Joe Rogan.
Governor Lee granted his request, along with pardons for 33 other individuals, on Thursday (Dec. 18).
What does a pardon mean for Jelly Roll?
The Tennessean explained that a pardon for the singer doesn’t mean that his record is wiped clean, but “it is a prerequisite to having his record expunged.”
Jelly Roll explained to Joe Rogan that his charges are considered violent offenses and that the state maintains a “zero forgiveness” policy, something he doesn’t necessarily agree with.
The singer plans to appeal to the regulations that don’t allow him to own a firearm, therefore hindering his desire to hunt.
“I want to go to them and go, ‘Look, I understand if you’ve ever raped somebody or killed somebody, but I think that every, it should, there should be some path to redemption.’ Even if it takes 30 years,” Jelly Roll said.
Jelly added that he would wants to have the option to protect himself, saying it would save him “one million dollars” a year.
Jelly Roll’s Criminal Past
In 2003, Jelly Roll was convicted of felony robbery after he committed a robbery while unarmed with two unarmed men and a woman. They took $350. He was sentenced to serve a year in prison.
Five years later, Jelly Roll was found in possession of crack cocaine and marijuana. He was charged with felony drug possession and sentenced to eight years of court-ordered supervision. The singer told Rogan that he was been put in jail 40 times.
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Jelly Roll’s pardon comes just one week after Craig Morgan invited him to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Watch that special moment unfold in the video below.