Jelly Roll faces fear of fosing success after long journey to stardom

Country star Jelly Roll , known for hits like “Save Me” and “Need a Favor,” has reached the peak of his career. But with success comes a new fear: the pressure of maintaining it. The 39-year-old artist, who once found himself in juvenile detention during his adolescence, had confidence in achieving his big break. Yet, now that he’s at the top, he reveals that his greatest fear is not failing to make it, but losing everything he’s worked for. “I was never afraid of not making it. I’m petrified of losing it,” he shared with People . “That is the pressure I feel. I was okay with this thing not working. But since it worked, now I’m petrified of it not working.” Along the way to stardom, Jelly Roll has faced personal challenges, including mending broken relationships and confronting past mistakes. He admits to struggles with forgiveness, both from others and himself. “I was hitting some stone walls with people that wouldn’t forgive me, and I was like, ‘God, maybe this has something to do with the fact that I haven’t forgiven myself either.’” He reflects on the pain caused by years of a selfish, narcissistic lifestyle, acknowledging the hurt he’s caused, despite his personal growth. Now, the artist is focusing on giving back. Recently nominated for three Country Music Association (CMA) awards, Jelly Roll is determined to use his platform to help others. “I realized we’re here to serve,” he says. “That’s the thought when I write, when I perform, when we go feed the homeless, when we go talk to kids at juvenile [detention centers] or jail—we just want to be a good steward with what we’ve got.” In addition to his musical achievements, Jelly Roll has also been making strides in his health. This year, he’s lost 110 pounds, with a significant portion of that coming during his “Beautifully Broken” tour, which started in August. His nutritionist, Ian Larios, praised Jelly Roll for his dedication to his health journey. “The habits he’s been building are truly life-changing,” Larios said, highlighting his commitment to staying active through walking, basketball, and boxing. Born Jason Bradley DeFord on December 4, 1984, Jelly Roll’s rise to fame hasn’t been easy. After spending much of his youth in and out of juvenile centers, he earned his GED at 23 while incarcerated. His early career involved selling hip-hop mixtapes, but it was the country genre that ultimately brought him widespread success. His 2022 debut single “Son of a Sinner” hit No. 1 on Country radio, and in November 2023, he won New Artist of the Year at the 57th CMA Awards. He also won three Country Music Television awards for the second consecutive year and is a four-time Grammy nominee. Jelly Roll is married to Alyssa DeFord, who goes by Bunnie XO, and has two children from previous relationships.