The singer-songwriter has been prohibited from performing outside the U.S. due to past arrests
Jelly Roll is hitting the road this fall. The GRAMMY® Award nominee is embarking on the biggest tour of his career, playing arenas across the United States into October. The Beautifully Broken trek kicks off on Tuesday, August 27 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The tour will make stops New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New Orleans, and more before wrapping up in Charlotte, North Carolina at Spectrum Center on Sunday, October 27. Very special guests for the run will be Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay.
While the tour is strictly U.S. dates only, the singer has now added is first-ever international concerts to the itinerary. Next month, Jelly Roll will perform an exclusive show at the Meridian Centre in Saint Catherines, Ontario, Canada on July 8, followed by an appearance at the Ottawa Blues Festival on July 9. The gigs mark the first performances outside of the U.S. in Jelly Roll’s career. The singer-songwriter has been plagued by past felony convictions, which has restricted him from playing shows outside the country.
Featuring very special guests Allie Colleen and Callie Twisselman, the July 8 show at the Meridian Centre is in direct support of local charity, The Heather Winterstein Foundation. Ticket sale information for Meridian Centre members can be found below. Tickets for the Ottawa Blues Fest go on sale tomorrow, July 19.
Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, is a name that has become synonymous with raw, unfiltered authenticity in the world of hip-hop and country music. His music, which often touches on themes of struggle, redemption, and resilience, is deeply rooted in his personal experiences. Among these experiences are a series of arrests that have shaped his life and, in turn, his art.
Jason DeFord grew up in the rough neighborhoods of Nashville, Tennessee. His early life was marked by turbulence, and he quickly became acquainted with the harsh realities of street life. By the age of 14, Jelly Roll had his first brush with the law, arrested for minor offenses that included vandalism and petty theft. These early incidents set the stage for a tumultuous journey through the criminal justice system.
Jelly Roll’s most significant legal troubles began in his late teens and early twenties. He was arrested multiple times on charges ranging from drug possession to armed robbery. One of the most notable incidents occurred in his early twenties when he was sentenced to several years in prison for drug-related offenses. This period of incarceration was a turning point for Jelly Roll, forcing him to confront his choices and their consequences.
While in prison, Jelly Roll found solace in music. He began writing lyrics and honing his craft, using his experiences as fuel for his creativity. His time behind bars became a crucible for his transformation, shaping his perspective and inspiring the raw, honest storytelling that would later define his music.
After his release from prison, Jelly Roll committed himself to turning his life around. He channeled his energy into his music career, using his platform to share his story and connect with others who had faced similar struggles. His music, characterized by its candid exploration of addiction, pain, and redemption, resonated with a broad audience.
Songs like “Save Me” and “Creature” delve into the depths of Jelly Roll’s personal battles, offering a glimpse into the mind of someone who has faced the darkness and emerged stronger. His collaborations with artists like Struggle Jennings, Tech N9ne, and Lil Wyte further solidified his place in the music industry, bringing his unique blend of hip-hop and country to the forefront.
Jelly Roll’s journey from a troubled youth to a celebrated artist is a testament to the power of resilience and redemption. His arrests and subsequent incarcerations, while difficult and life-altering, served as catalysts for his personal growth and artistic evolution. Today, Jelly Roll uses his platform to advocate for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues, drawing from his own experiences to offer hope and support.
In interviews, Jelly Roll often speaks about the importance of second chances and the transformative power of music. He remains open about his past, using it as a source of strength rather than shame. His story serves as an inspiration to many, proving that it is possible to rise above adversity and create something meaningful out of even the darkest moments.
Jelly Roll’s arrests are not merely chapters of a troubled past but pivotal points in a journey of transformation. They have shaped the man and artist he is today, fueling a career that continues to touch lives and break down barriers. Through his music, Jelly Roll offers a voice to the voiceless and a beacon of hope for those navigating their own struggles. His story is a powerful reminder that redemption is always within reach, no matter how far one has fallen.
Last week, Jelly Roll released his new single, “I Am Not Okay.” The track is the lead single off his forthcoming new album which is due out later this year. The all-new “I Am Not Okay” marks the first official release of new music for the Nashville native since his record-breaking debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel, which came out last June.
Co-written by Jelly Roll, Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley and Casey Brown, “I Am Not Okay” follows Jelly’s Grammy-nominated multi-week No. 1, “Save Me,” and his last single, “Halfway to Hell”, which earlier this week claimed the top spot on the country radio charts, marking the CMA, ACM, and CMT winning artist’s fourth consecutive No. 1 at Country radio and 5th career No.1. Earlier today, Jelly visited The Howard Stern Show to talk more about the new song and the impact he has already seen from fans, as well as his experience this week of announcing news of his No.1 and the new single from his live performance at Nissan Stadium, where he co-hosted CMA Fest’s ABC television special set to air on September 25th.
Recently, Jelly Roll made a special guest appearance on the new Falling In Reverse single, “All My Life.“ The song is from the band’s forthcoming LP Popular Monster arrives on July 26 through Epitaph Records. It is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2017’s Coming Home.
Jelly Roll debuted Top 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Top Country Album charts with his debut Country Album, Whitsitt Chapel (released June 2nd, 2023) – earning the biggest Country debut album in Billboard Consumption Chart history. Following his sweep at the 2023 CMT Music Awards where he earned 3 awards to become the most awarded artist of the night, the Billboard Country Power List Cover star and “country’s ‘most authentic’ new artist” (The New Yorker) received Billboard’s 2023 Breakthrough Award and the People’s Choice Award for Male Country Artist of the Year.
Nominated for Best New Artist and Best Duo/Group Performance for “Save Me (with Lainey Wilson)” at the 2024 GRAMMY® Awards, along with eight genre-spanning nominations at the 2024 iHeartRadio Radios, Jelly Roll is one of three artists alongside Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs to have scored three Country Airplay No. 1s in 2023 and the first to do it with his first three singles.
Jelly was a four-time winner at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards and was the most nominated male at the 2023 CMA Awards, with five total nominations capturing his first CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. His No. 1 hit single “Save Me” — a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt— set the stage for his new season of life and took him to new heights including a Platinum certification from the RIAA on the heels of his 28-week reign at No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart. “Save Me” became his third consecutive No. 1 single in 2023 following his multi-week No. 1 hits on Country and Rock radio, “Need A Favor” and “Son of A Sinner.” His current single “Halfway To Hell” is currently at Country radio now.
Not just an artist but a humanitarian, Jelly Roll continues to resonate with fans on a global scale while racking up numerous milestones – from playing his sold-out hometown show for 18,000 fans at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to donating a recording studio at the juvenile detention center he served in as a teen, to the release of his record-breaking documentary by ABC News, “Save Me” -the most watched music documentary on the platform- to his visits with rehab centers and those incarcerated across the US.
Featured by Nightline, GMA, GMA3, The New York Times, LA Times, The Tennessean, Billboard, Variety, American Songwriter, CMT and more, his self-built, unconventional industry rise and unique fan connection has garnered praise from numerous outlets, with Variety noting, “for everyone who’s facing the same struggles, Jelly Roll is their Springsteen,” and American Songwriter echoing, “with a string of accolades and an extremely dedicated following, Jelly Roll has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.”
Tickets will be available HERE
Tickets will be available HERE