Updated: August 2026
Jelly Roll is the stage name of Jason Bradley DeFord, a Nashville-born singer and songwriter whose career moved from independent Southern hip-hop into country and rock. His best-known songs include “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor,” “Save Me” and “I Am Not Okay.” In 2026, he won his first three Grammy Awards.
Jelly Roll. Image source: KSDK.
This biography separates verified career information from commonly repeated claims about Jelly Roll’s height, weight and net worth. Details that are not published in an official or reliable source are identified as unconfirmed instead of presented as fact.
Jelly Roll Quick Facts
| Real name | Jason Bradley DeFord |
|---|---|
| Born | December 4, 1984 |
| Age | 41 as of August 2026; he turns 42 on December 4, 2026 |
| Hometown | Nashville, Tennessee; raised in the Antioch area |
| Genres | Country, hip-hop and rock |
| Reported height | 6 feet 1 inch, according to a 2019 MoxieTalk profile; not listed in his official artist or Grammy profiles |
| Recent full-length album | Beautifully Broken (2024) |
| Grammy record through 2026 | 3 wins from 7 nominations |
Who Is Jelly Roll?
Biography.com’s updated profile identifies Jelly Roll as Jason Bradley DeFord, born December 4, 1984, in Nashville. He grew up in Antioch and began writing rap songs when he was young. That confirmed birth date corrects the conflicting 1984 and 1986 dates in the prior version of this article.
Jelly Roll’s music draws on difficult experiences, addiction, incarceration, family and recovery. A Recording Academy interview describes how the birth of his daughter while he was incarcerated became a turning point. He built an independent rap catalogue before a wider country audience discovered the confessional songwriting and country-rock sound he developed later.
From Independent Rap to a Country Breakthrough
Jelly Roll released independent rap projects and collaborations for years before his mainstream country breakthrough. The transition did not erase his hip-hop background. Instead, songs such as “Save Me” and “Son of a Sinner” placed his direct storytelling over country and rock arrangements.
Ballads of the Broken arrived in 2021 and included “Son of a Sinner.” His 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel included “Need a Favor” and a new version of “Save Me” featuring Lainey Wilson. The album’s name refers to the church he attended as a teenager.
His 2024 album Beautifully Broken continued the crossover success and included “I Am Not Okay.” Readers looking for current releases and tour information should use Jelly Roll’s official website, where changes can be confirmed more reliably than on an undated celebrity profile.
Jelly Roll’s 2026 Grammy Wins
The Recording Academy’s official artist record lists three wins from seven nominations through the 2026 Grammy Awards:
- Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken.
- Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen” with Shaboozey.
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake and the credited songwriters.
These were his first Grammy wins after earlier nominations for Best New Artist, “Save Me” and “I Am Not Okay.”
What Is Jelly Roll Doing in 2026?
In March 2026, Jelly Roll and Mexican singer Carín León released “Lighter.” FIFA’s official announcement identifies it as the first single from the 2026 FIFA World Cup official album and credits Canadian producer Cirkut.
His recent public story also includes a December 2025 pardon from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. The Associated Press reported that the pardon followed years in which Jelly Roll spoke publicly about redemption, second chances and his criminal past.
Jelly Roll’s Height, Weight and Net Worth
How tall is Jelly Roll?
A 2019 MoxieTalk profile described Jelly Roll as 6 feet 1 inch tall. That figure is widely repeated online, but his official website and Recording Academy profile do not publish a height. It is best described as a reported figure rather than a current official measurement.
How much does Jelly Roll weigh?
There is no stable, authoritative current number to publish. Body weight changes, and search snippets or celebrity-data sites are not reliable medical records. This article therefore does not repeat an exact weight or use his body size as entertainment.
What is Jelly Roll’s net worth?
Jelly Roll’s finances are private. Music sales, touring, publishing, merchandise, taxes and business obligations cannot be calculated from public popularity alone. Exact net-worth estimates should be treated as speculation unless they are supported by audited records or a direct financial disclosure.
Personal Life
Jelly Roll married Bunnie Xo, whose legal name is Alisa DeFord, in 2016. In June 2026, the Associated Press reported that he had filed for divorce and that the filing listed May 9 as the separation date. Because that is an ongoing personal and legal matter, this article does not speculate beyond the reported filing.
Public profiles identify Jelly Roll as a father of two. His daughter’s birth has been discussed in interviews as a major turning point, but private family details should not be inferred from fan sites or copied from unsourced biography pages.
Official Jelly Roll Links
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jelly Roll’s real name?
His full name is Jason Bradley DeFord.
How old is Jelly Roll?
He was born December 4, 1984. He is 41 as of August 2026 and turns 42 in December 2026.
Where is Jelly Roll from?
He is from Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up in the Antioch area.
What kind of music does Jelly Roll make?
His catalogue crosses country, Southern hip-hop and rock. His mainstream breakthrough came through country songs, but his earlier independent career was rooted in rap.
How many Grammys has Jelly Roll won?
Through the 2026 Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy lists three wins from seven nominations.
Conclusion
Jelly Roll’s career is not a simple overnight-success story. He spent years releasing independent rap music before songs including “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor,” “Save Me” and “I Am Not Okay” reached a much larger country audience. His three Grammy wins in 2026 mark a major milestone, while “Lighter” connects his genre-crossing style to the 2026 FIFA World Cup soundtrack.
The verified facts are more useful than the celebrity-site guesses: Jason DeFord was born December 4, 1984; he is a Nashville artist with roots in rap, country and rock; 6 feet 1 inch is a reported rather than official height; and exact current weight and net-worth figures are not reliably public.
