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Jelly<\/a> is no longer a Felly. Jelly Roll<\/a> was pardoned of his felonies by the governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, on December 18. The country rapper, born Jason DeFord, was convicted of robbery and drug felonies in Tennessee when he was 17 and 23. With the pardon, it will make it easier for Jelly Roll to travel and perform internationally. \u201cHis story is remarkable, and it\u2019s a redemptive, powerful story, which is what you look for and what you hope for,\u201d Lee told AP News<\/a>. He met with Lee in his office on Thursday, and as Lee granted him clemency, the two embraced in front of a Christmas tree. This pardon is supported by the Tennessee Board of Parole, which unanimously approved a recommendation to pardon the musician in April 2025<\/a>. The rapper has already served time in prison, so a Tennessee pardon is a state of forgiveness for past crimes and restores civil rights like voting.<\/p>\n Throughout Jelly Roll\u2019s discography, you\u2019ll find his story of redemption. \u201cThese back roads got me\/These pills pretend to be my friend\/I\u2019m done for the last time\/I\u2019m lying to myself again,\u201d he sings in his 2021 song, \u201cSon of a Sinner<\/a>.\u201d He struggled with addiction and troubles with the law that began when he was 14 years old. \u201cThe same year that I got baptized, I got arrested, and that started what would be a 10-year cycle of incarceration in and out,\u201d Jelly Roll told the Grammys<\/a>. He missed the birth of his daughter because he was incarcerated in 2008, and since then, he has made it his mission to get his life together, with the help of his now-wife,\u00a0Bunnie<\/a>, whom he married in 2016. Since he\u2019s gotten sober, he\u2019s testified in front of Congress to pass anti-fentanyl legislation. \u201cAt every concert I perform, I witness the heartbreaking impact of fentanyl,\u201d Jelly Roll stated in 2024, per The Hill<\/a>. \u201cI see fans grappling with this tragedy in the form of music, that they seek solace in music and hope that their experiences won\u2019t befall others.\u201d<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n