Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The award-winning country artist discusses his past criminal history and the efforts he wants to undertake to make amends.
Award-winning country artist Jelly Roll reflects on the experiences that shaped him and expresses his desire to make amends.
In this week’s episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty, the 39-year-old singer opens up about his criminal past, which began at a young age.
“I had deep-rooted insecurities from early on. Being a bigger kid, I naturally carried a chip on my shoulder,” Jelly recalls from his childhood. Growing up in an “active” neighborhood in Antioch, Tennessee, he sought “acceptance,” noting that “the streets will always give it to you.”
Regarding his incarceration, Jelly shares, “I got into a fight with a kid, and back then, we had chain wallets. While we were wrestling, I grabbed a chain wallet to hit him with it, which led to a strong-arm robbery charge. I ended up in the system for about 20 months when I was 13 due to that robbery.”
Jelly Roll expresses lingering guilt about his past, sharing with Shetty, “I look back at those years, Jay, and I feel so embarrassed discussing them. I was still a bad person in my early 30s, and honestly, I was a terrible kid all the way into my mid-20s. People often say, ‘You’re the nicest dude I’ve ever met,’ and I think, ‘I’m just glad you haven’t met anyone who knew me 20 years ago.'”
He even hopes to reach out to his robbery victim over two decades later, keeping a list of people he wants to apologize to, although he admits, “I just haven’t gotten that far down the list yet.”
Reflecting on his past behavior, he adds, “No matter how old I was, I had no right to take from anyone. I had this entitlement, thinking the world owed me enough that I could just take your stuff. What a terrible way to view life and interact with others; it’s a horrible perspective on existence.”
Jelly Roll also shared memories of his late father, who passed away in 2019. Although they always shared a strong bond, their relationship deepened after the singer broke free from the “revolving cycle of the judicial system.”
“We really started to connect, and I leaned on him more. We would hit happy hour three or four times a week, sitting in the same spot at the same bar on a street in Nashville called the Tin Roof from 4 to 6,” he recounted.
Jelly’s mother, who struggled with drug addiction and mental health issues, also played a significant role in shaping his future. “She became quite reclusive. For a 20-year span, I only saw my mother out of a nightgown maybe twice,” he remembered. “I started linking her mental health to music because the few times she came out of her bedroom and sat at the kitchen table, she seemed to thrive.”
Their connection grew stronger through music, particularly as Jelly’s career began to flourish. “Whenever she was at her healthiest, music was always playing. She had this record player… At times, if she was downstairs with her girlfriend, she’d call me up to read whatever song I had written. Looking back, I realize how much that nurtured our relationship.”
Jelly Roll is also a devoted father who aims to teach his two children, Bailee Ann, 16, and Noah, 7, to learn from his past mistakes. “She’s going to be everything I wasn’t in life,” he said of his daughter.
He reflected on his personal growth, stating, “I’ve managed to do the work and forgive myself for who I used to be, but I put in a lot of effort to change my entire perspective on people and love… I didn’t cry until I was 33. Now, I can’t seem to stop. I thought I’d caught up on my emotions by now, but I still find myself sobbing for no reason.”
