Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, received an official pardon from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee for past crimes. The pardon clears two felony convictions from his record in Davidson County, Tennessee, related to offenses committed in his teenage years and during a later period on parole, including robbery and a drug-related charge.
According to an official press release from the governor’s office, Lee granted executive clemency to 33 individuals on Thursday (Dec. 18), including the “NEED A FAVOR” singer.
“After thoroughly reviewing the merits of each case, I have decided to grant 33 individuals executive clemency,” Bill Lee shared on Thursday, December 18. “Each individual case is unique and warranted consideration, and I thank the Board of Parole members for their thoughtful recommendations throughout this process.”
“It was evident to me that this is a man who should get a pardon,” Lee also told reporters on a press conference call (per The Tennessean), “his story is remarkable, and it’s a redemptive, powerful story, which is what you look for and what you hope for.”
Governor Lee also emphasized that Jelly Roll’s fame didn’t play a role in the process after the singer/songwriter petitioned for a pardon in 2024, stressing that his request was handled no differently than any other. Lee shared that the singer was “treated the same as every single person that asks for clemency.”
The release also stated that “pardons are granted to individuals who have completed their sentences and have been living freely in their communities for at least five years.”
Jelly Roll has not yet publicly commented on the pardon, but his attorneys, David Raybin and Ben Raybin of Raybin & Weissman, shared a statement with Billboard. “We can confirm Governor Bill Lee granted a full pardon to Jelly Roll earlier today as part of his announced executive clemency decisions,” a joint statement from David and Ben Raybin read.
Earlier this month, Jelly Roll told Joe Rogan that he was seeking a pardon as his previous crimes were causing issues for him as a touring musician and also preventing him from hunting and owning a gun. “Well, this is interesting. 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 Roll told Rogan on The Joe Rogan Experience, before revealing that he was praying for a “positive” outcome.
“Tennessee has a zero forgiveness policy for violent offenders… So, I would be pardoned, but I wouldn’t be exonerated. The charges aren’t completely gone,” he also explained to Rogan at the time. “I want to go to them and go, ‘Look, I understand if you’ve ever r**ed somebody or killed somebody, but I think that every…there should be some path to redemption.’ Even if it takes 30 years.”
On the Joe Rogan Podcast, Jelly Roll was also invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
