Wikimedia Commons, via Wikipedia: Jelly Roll (singer)
Jelly Roll’s net worth is $12 million, built through a music career spanning hip-hop, rock, and country. Born Jason Bradley DeFord in Nashville, Tennessee, Jelly Roll overcame a decade of incarceration to become one of country music’s most commercially successful breakout artists of the 2020s. His 2024 album Beautifully Broken debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, cementing his transition from regional rap mixtapes to mainstream country stardom.
Updated March 2026: According to Billboard, Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in October 2024 — the fifth country album to lead the all-genre chart in 2024. Industry estimates reported by Country Living place his net worth at approximately $12 million.
Jason Bradley DeFord was born on December 4, 1984, in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. His father, Horace “Buddy” DeFord, ran a wholesale meat business and operated as a bookie on the side. His mother struggled with drug addiction and mental illness, and she nicknamed him Jelly Roll for being a “chubby kid.” Around age 9 or 10, DeFord wrote his first rap song. By eighth grade he was distributing homemade mixtapes in high school parking lots.
After his parents divorced when he was 13, DeFord began selling drugs to support his family. He was first arrested at age 14, beginning what he describes as a “10-year cycle of incarceration” on charges including possession with intent to distribute and aggravated robbery, per Wikipedia. He spent fewer than 60 days attending high school. While imprisoned in his early twenties, he earned his GED at age 23. On December 18, 2025, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted DeFord a full pardon for his prior felony convictions.
Jelly Roll began his music career in 2003 with his first hip-hop release. His early output consisted primarily of Southern rap mixtapes and collaborative projects distributed independently. From 2010 to approximately 2015, he lived out of a van while building an audience through direct sales and online releases. A 2013 collaboration with Lil Wyte, No Filter, reached number 17 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart.
His pivot toward rock and country began in the late 2010s. After signing with BMG, Jelly Roll released Ballads of the Broken in September 2021, which included the singles “Dead Man Walking” — his first number-one on rock radio in May 2022 — and “Son of a Sinner,” which climbed to number one on country radio in January 2023. On November 9, 2021, he made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
His 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and was the largest-debuting country album of that year. In November 2023, he was named New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards and was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards. His follow-up, Beautifully Broken, released in October 2024, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, recording 161,000 equivalent album units in its first week. The album’s single “Liar” (featuring Keith Urban) topped country radio, and “I Am Not Okay” crossed into Hot AC and Top 40. He performed “Liar” live at both the 59th ACM Awards and the 2024 CMA Awards. He also debuted musically on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary season in September 2024, performing his track “Get By,” which was also ESPN’s 2024 college football season anthem.
Jelly Roll is married to Bunnie XO (born Alyssa DeFord), a podcaster and media personality known for her podcast Dumb Blonde. The couple married in 2016 and share primary custody of Jelly Roll’s daughter, Bailee Ann, born May 22, 2008 — whose birth, while he was incarcerated, he credits as the turning point in his life, per People. He also has a son, Noah Buddy, born August 23, 2016, from a previous relationship. The family is based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jelly Roll has been an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform and addiction recovery. He has spoken before the U.S. Senate about the fentanyl crisis and uses his public platform to address addiction, incarceration, and redemption. In December 2025, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted him a full pardon for prior convictions.
Jelly Roll’s net worth is estimated at $12 million as of 2026, reflecting his rapid rise from independent Southern rapper to mainstream country star. His wealth is derived primarily from record sales, touring, and BMG label income, with Beautifully Broken‘s number-one debut on the Billboard 200 in October 2024 representing a significant commercial milestone.
Jelly Roll built his following over two decades of independent hip-hop releases before pivoting to country music in the early 2020s. His breakthrough country single “Son of a Sinner” reached number one on country radio in January 2023. He gained mainstream recognition through his CMA New Artist of the Year win in November 2023, Grammy nominations, and high-profile television performances including his musical debut on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary season in September 2024.
Jelly Roll’s real name is Jason Bradley DeFord. He was born on December 4, 1984, and grew up in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. His mother gave him the nickname “Jelly Roll” in childhood. He has used that name professionally since his first hip-hop releases in 2003.
As of March 2026, Jelly Roll is 41 years old. Jelly Roll was born on December 4, 1984 in Antioch, Tennessee, USA.
Jelly Roll stands 6’1″ (some sources 6’1½”) tall (187 cm).
Jelly Roll is married to Bunnie Xo (Alisa DeFord). The couple tied the knot in 2016 and have become one of country music’s most beloved couples. Bunnie is a podcaster and internet personality known for her show “Dumb Blonde.”
Yes, Jelly Roll has two children: Bailee Ann (17) and Noah Buddy (9). Jelly Roll has been open about the challenges of fatherhood and has spoken candidly about wanting to be a better parent than what he experienced growing up.
Jelly Roll lives in Nashville, Tennessee, the heart of the country music scene. As a Nashville native, the city holds deep personal significance for his music and career.
Jelly Roll earns approximately $3 million per year, with individual concert performances bringing in $1.5–2 million per show. His rapid rise in country music has made him one of the genre’s top earners.