Tennessee Governor Bill Lee Grants Official Pardon to Jelly Roll
By Website Content Manager
“It was clear to me that he deserved a pardon,” Gov. Lee said.
Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, has been granted a full pardon by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
On Thursday, December 18, Gov. Lee announced pardons for 33 individuals, with the singer-songwriter among those receiving clemency. The pardon formally forgives Jelly Roll for two felony convictions in Davidson County, Tennessee: a robbery conviction as a teenager and a later conviction for possession with intent to sell cocaine while on parole.
“It was clear to me that he deserved a pardon,” Gov. Lee told reporters, according to The Tennessean via USA Today.
The governor emphasized that Jelly Roll did not receive preferential treatment because of his celebrity status, noting that the singer had applied for a pardon last year. Lee stressed that he “would be treated the same as every single person that asks for clemency.”
Earlier this year, the Tennessee Board of Parole recommended the pardon, highlighting Jelly Roll’s personal transformation. “His story is remarkable, redemptive, and powerful, and it was evident he should receive a pardon,” Lee said, according to WSMV.
While Jelly Roll has not personally made a public statement, his legal team, David Raybin and Ben Raybin of Raybin & Weissman, confirmed the news to Billboard: “We can confirm Governor Bill Lee granted a full pardon to Jelly Roll earlier today as part of his announced executive clemency decisions.”
Since his release, Jelly Roll and the other 32 recipients have remained incident-free. Over the years, he has turned his life around, advocating for juveniles in the justice system and visiting prisons across the country to share messages of hope, showing that meaningful change is possible.
This announcement comes shortly after Jelly Roll was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry during a conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience. During the podcast, he revealed he had applied for a pardon and was “praying” for a favorable outcome.
He explained, “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.”