Tennessee board recommends that governor pardon country star Jelly Roll
The board issued its nonbinding recommendation unanimously after a hearing that lasted about an hour and 45 minutes with several witnesses, including Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall, advocating for the 40-year-old musician named Jason DeFord. One board member recused themselves from voting.
The tattooed rapper-turned-country singer broke out in country with his 2023 album 'Whitsitt Chapel' and crossover songs like 'Need a Favor.' Focusing on songs about his redemption after spending time in juvenile detention facilities, Jelly Roll has won multiple CMT Awards, a CMA Award and earned four Grammy nominations, including for new artist of the year.
'This was incredible,' he said after the vote, according to the board's recording of the meeting. 'I pray this goes through. But today was special for me, regardless.'
His most serious convictions include a robbery at age 17 and drug charges at 23. In the first case, a female acquaintance helped Jelly Roll and two other young men enter a house in 2002. Both of the others were carrying guns, although Jelly Roll was unarmed. They demanded money, and received $350 and a wallet with no money in it. Because the victims knew the female acquaintance, she and Jelly Roll were arrested right away. He was sentenced to serve 1 year in prison and additional time on probation.
Later, in 2008, police on patrol saw him quickly shut his car trunk as they approached. The officers said they smelled marijuana and searched the trunk, finding both marijuana and crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 8 years of court-ordered supervision.
He also has two misdemeanor offenses for driving without a license and possession of drug paraphernalia.
These days, he often visits jails and rehabilitation centers before performing concerts. He has bought restaurants out for the day to feed people who are homeless and played basketball with kids at a youth center the same day that he performed in Winnipeg. He said he generally doesn't seek out news coverage when he makes these visits.
One of the reasons Jelly Roll gave for needing a pardon is to be able to travel to Canada to perform, which his criminal record makes difficult. Currently, he would need to apply for a special permit that can include long wait times for a decision, according to a letter from an immigration attorney submitted with his clemency packet.
He said he would use the pardon for much more than going on tour, though.
'I'll still be using this same pardon, God willing, to go do missionary work in my 50s and 60s,' he said.
Due to his criminal record, he told the board that every time he travels it 'takes a team of lawyers and a mountain of paperwork to secure my entry into those countries.' He said he recently was able to make his first tour in Canada and took his first trip to the United Kingdom, where he spoke about a rehabilitation program.
A pardon is a statement of forgiveness by the state for a crime or crimes. Applicants are not eligible until they are five years past the date that their sentence expired in Tennessee. The parole board began considering Jelly Roll's pardon application in October 2024.
Lee, a Republican, has issued more than 90 pardons since taking office in 2019, all of them since 2021.
___
Associated Press writer Kristin M. Hall contributed from Nashville.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Attack on military base in Burkina Faso kills about 50 soldiers, residents say
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — An attack by an armed group on a military base in northern Burkina Faso has left about 50 soldiers dead, according to accounts by a community leader and a resident on Tuesday. The Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin group, or JNIM, was suspected of carrying out the attack Monday on the base in Dargo in Boulsa province in the northern region of the landlocked West African nation. The two sources, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they feared repercussions from the military, said about 100 militants participated in the attack, and that the gunmen burned and looted the base after the killings. The military government has yet to publicly acknowledge the attack. JNIM, one of several armed groups conducting attacks across West Africa, has been blamed for hundreds of civilian and military deaths. Burkina Faso is witnessing a surge in attacks by armed groups who are in control of most of the country, especially outside of the capital. The deteriorating security situation has led to political shifts in the country and served as the pretext for back-to-back coups. The military leader, Ibrahim Traore, has been unable to rein in the Islamist groups despite his redrawing of political and military allies.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'From bad to worse': Ugandan opposition figure describes struggle ahead of next year's vote
Uganda Opposition Struggle KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Opposition figure Bobi Wine said the political climate in Uganda has 'gone from bad to worse' ahead of presidential polls set for early next year, citing threats to himself and other activists mobilizing against the longtime president. Wine, a singer-turned-lawmaker whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, said the threats he faces as President Yoweri Museveni's main opponent 'come in no unclear terms.' Fears for Wine's safety have grown in recent months, fueled by regular attacks on X from Museveni's son and presumptive heir, army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba. In January, Kainerugaba wrote he 'would cut off' Wine's head if the president allowed it, and he drew widespread criticism in May for saying he was holding Wine's missing bodyguard 'in my basement.' The bodyguard later appeared unable to walk without support when presented in court, the apparent victim of torture. 'It's a constant reminder that the threat is real, because this is no ordinary person,' Wine said, speaking of Gen. Kainerugaba. 'This is a person that is not only the son of the person in charge of the country but is also the person in charge of all the organs of violence. He heads the military, the police, the prisons, you know. He is above the law, and he has acted as such.' Wine, 43, spoke to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview at the headquarters of his National Unity Platform party in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, a site briefly occupied by security forces in a raid last month. Museveni, 80, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, dismisses Wine as an agent of foreign interests and has even questioned his patriotism. But Wine, who denies the allegations, has a large following among working-class people in urban areas, and his party has the most seats of any opposition party in Parliament. In the 2021 election, Wine secured 35% of the vote, while Museveni, with 58%, posted his worst-ever result, establishing Wine as the president's most potent challenger in decades. Wine alleged his victory was stolen through widespread ballot stuffing and other malpractices. Electoral authorities disputed the allegations. Wine's party claims dozens of its followers have been jailed or disappeared since 2021. For Wine, the attacks are meant to 'send fear down the nerves of all those that work with me and all those that stand for what I stand for.' Wine and Museveni are set to face each other again in presidential polls scheduled for January 2026. Museveni has been campaigning in recent days in Kampala as he tries to bolster his chances among people likely to support Wine, urban dwellers often without a reliable source of income and who hope a change of government will benefit them. Wine often describes himself as a 'ghetto president,' citing his early days in a poor neighborhood in Kampala. He has maintained a high profile in this East African nation since the early 2000s, when he rose to fame as a singer whose dancehall music captivated audiences. Wine's compositions later grew critical of the government, earning him a reputation as a prominent contrarian while his musical peers were sometimes seen to be supportive of the government. His election to a parliamentary seat in 2017 marked his formal entry into national politics. Wine told the AP he is mobilizing his supporters to show up in what he calls a 'protest vote' against everything he believes is wrong with the government. But his attempts to hold rallies across the country are often thwarted by security forces who cite a need to protect public order. Kainerugaba, the army chief, recently said that government-provided guards will protect all presidential candidates, a warning to Wine and others against making private security arrangements. Kainerugaba's stated presidential ambitions have exacerbated fears of family rule in a country that has never witnessed a peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1962. 'It speaks of state capture. It speaks of impunity. It speaks of family rule,' Wine said about the threats from Kainerugaba. Yet, he said, his resistance has only increased in the face of pressure. 'Our resolve has become firmer," he said. ___ More AP Africa news: Solve the daily Crossword
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘From bad to worse': Ugandan opposition figure describes struggle ahead of next year's vote
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Opposition figure Bobi Wine said the political climate in Uganda has 'gone from bad to worse' ahead of presidential polls set for early next year, citing threats to himself and other activists mobilizing against the longtime president. Wine, a singer-turned-lawmaker whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, said the threats he faces as President Yoweri Museveni's main opponent 'come in no unclear terms.' Fears for Wine's safety have grown in recent months, fueled by regular attacks on X from Museveni's son and presumptive heir, army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba. In January, Kainerugaba wrote he 'would cut off' Wine's head if the president allowed it, and he drew widespread criticism in May for saying he was holding Wine's missing bodyguard 'in my basement.' The bodyguard later appeared unable to walk without support when presented in court, the apparent victim of torture. 'It's a constant reminder that the threat is real, because this is no ordinary person,' Wine said, speaking of Gen. Kainerugaba. 'This is a person that is not only the son of the person in charge of the country but is also the person in charge of all the organs of violence. He heads the military, the police, the prisons, you know. He is above the law, and he has acted as such.' Wine, 43, spoke to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview at the headquarters of his National Unity Platform party in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, a site briefly occupied by security forces in a raid last month. Museveni, 80, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, dismisses Wine as an agent of foreign interests and has even questioned his patriotism. But Wine, who denies the allegations, has a large following among working-class people in urban areas, and his party has the most seats of any opposition party in Parliament. In the 2021 election , Wine secured 35% of the vote, while Museveni, with 58%, posted his worst-ever result, establishing Wine as the president's most potent challenger in decades. Wine alleged his victory was stolen through widespread ballot stuffing and other malpractices. Electoral authorities disputed the allegations. Wine's party claims dozens of its followers have been jailed or disappeared since 2021. For Wine, the attacks are meant to 'send fear down the nerves of all those that work with me and all those that stand for what I stand for.' Wine and Museveni are set to face each other again in presidential polls scheduled for January 2026. Museveni has been campaigning in recent days in Kampala as he tries to bolster his chances among people likely to support Wine, urban dwellers often without a reliable source of income and who hope a change of government will benefit them. Wine often describes himself as a 'ghetto president,' citing his early days in a poor neighborhood in Kampala. He has maintained a high profile in this East African nation since the early 2000s, when he rose to fame as a singer whose dancehall music captivated audiences. Wine's compositions later grew critical of the government, earning him a reputation as a prominent contrarian while his musical peers were sometimes seen to be supportive of the government. His election to a parliamentary seat in 2017 marked his formal entry into national politics. Wine told the AP he is mobilizing his supporters to show up in what he calls a 'protest vote' against everything he believes is wrong with the government. But his attempts to hold rallies across the country are often thwarted by security forces who cite a need to protect public order. Kainerugaba, the army chief, recently said that government-provided guards will protect all presidential candidates, a warning to Wine and others against making private security arrangements. Kainerugaba's stated presidential ambitions have exacerbated fears of family rule in a country that has never witnessed a peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1962. 'It speaks of state capture. It speaks of impunity. It speaks of family rule,' Wine said about the threats from Kainerugaba. Yet, he said, his resistance has only increased in the face of pressure. 'Our resolve has become firmer,' he said. ___ More AP Africa news: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
