Jelly Roll hopes correcting past mistakes after serving jail time will urge Tennessee governor to pardon him
The 40-year-old told the Tennessee Board of Parole that his criminal record, under his birth name, Jason DeFord, is complicating his ability to travel internationally and perform.
On Tuesday, the board voted to recommend a pardon for the singer. Ultimately, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee will make the final decision. A spokesperson told CBS News the governor would follow a "comprehensive review process" and added that he generally announces pardons annually in December.
Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, who has known Jelly Roll for years, contributed a letter of support to his pardon application.
"I'm a sucker for redemption," Hall said. "I think he has an opportunity to change lives that none of us who believe we're experts -- and none of us who signed up to do this for a career — can do."
What did Jelly Roll serve jail time for?
Lyrics from the Jelly Roll's hit songs stem from personal experiences with drugs, crime, jail time and a family history of addiction. Starting at 14 years old, Jelly Roll spent a decade in and out of jail for drug possession, dealing, shoplifting and aggravated battery.
He spoke about his road to success with "Sunday Morning" last year, from his old cell at the county detention facility in Nashville.
"This is jail. It sucks, every one I've ever been to," he said. "I think that it's cool to see vulnerability that way, and that we can all grow together."
Jelly Roll has regularly used his platform to be an example for others. At the 2024 CMT Music Awards he tailored his message to young men in juvenile detention, telling the crowd, "it's important that I stand up here tonight and represent those that are looking for second chances."
The next day, he spoke about that moment with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King, saying, "change is around the corner for all of them. So I truly believe that. I epitomize it as much as I can."
He has made it his mission to speak and perform at penitentiaries across the country and has even testified on Capitol Hill to advocate for fentanyl victims and take accountability for his past.
"I was a part of the problem," he said during his testimony in 2024. "I am here now standing as a man that wants to be a part of the solution."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
12 hours ago
- New York Post
Expect CBS News to undergo a major overhaul under Skydance boss David Ellison
If it were, say, just a decade ago, cachet and power would be conferred on Skydance founder and CEO David Ellison, the soon-to-be chief of Paramount and its once-holy grail of TV news, CBS. Too bad it's not 10 years ago. The names Edward R. Murrow, Mike Wallace and Walter Cronkite — the people who built CBS News into the paragon of TV journalism — might come up in casual conversations among old-timers like yours truly, reminiscing about how network news once controlled the political and social agenda. Or maybe they would surface in a journalism class after CBS's current management last week settled a weird lawsuit, filed by President Trump, in order to keep in the good graces of the White House and get the Skydance-Paramount merger through his FCC regulators. But I can guarantee that the 42-year-old Ellison — the son of mega-billionaire Larry Ellison of Oracle fame, who is a MAGA supporter of the president — isn't thinking about the CBS News legacy as he prepares to complete his $8 billion combo. In fact, from what I hear, continuing in the grand tradition of Murrow, Wallace and Cronkite is not at the top of Ellison's mind because, for one, it ain't so grand any longer, and two (maybe most important), he knows it's a lousy business. It's not worth the trouble that it generates. We don't even know if it's profitable since Paramount doesn't disclose the news division's P&L statements. Plus, its product has moved so far to the left that it angers more than half the country. Full disclosure: I don't know David Ellison personally but people I trust do, and they tell me he's substantive, much more than a lucky sperm kid that being Larry's son confers. His independent studio Skydance has produced such recent blockbusters as 'Top Gun: Maverick' and 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.' He doesn't get his news from TikTok — far from it. For the time being, he wants to keep the news division but also move away from its progressive leanings. (A person close to him says look for investments in 'truth-based' news.) He does appreciate the CBS News legacy that he is about to buy — as long as the numbers are working and he believes they aren't, I am told. Sports as crown jewel And that's where things could get scary for the news division. Ellison, I am told, equates CBS with football more than he does with Cronkite. If he's looking to grow stuff, he and his point man in running the new company, former NBCU chief Jeff Shell, are looking at CBS Sports as the tip of the spear. Everything else is about to get the mother of all efficiency reviews, my sources say. Layoffs are likely, as are smaller salaries and squeezed budgets. In Ellison's worldview, CBS News' legacy has cachet but when an anchor like Tony Dokoupil gets upbraided by management — as he did last year — for questioning the work of far left author Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Coates' rationalization of the Oct. 7 massacre, something needs to change. It's been a long road from the time Ellison first bid on Paramount, the fading media empire created by dealmaker Sumner Redstone and left to his daughter, Shari. About two years ago David saw a distressed property he could buy on the cheap, decimated more than most of big media by cord-cutting and the vicissitudes of the business, but with prominent legacy properties and a major studio. Initially, Shari was a reluctant seller. She soon came to understand that Paramount's fortunes weren't getting better and her own fortune was evaporating fast. Ellison has the money (his dad's and a partner in private equity firm RedBird Capital) to make the new company work, and help her preserve a semblance of her dad's fortune. With Shari out of the way, Ellison then had to deal with the incoming Trump administration. The president and his dad are famously pals, Larry being a long-time political supporter. But friendship only goes so far in assuaging Trump's hatred for many elements of the mainstream media, and CBS is at the top of his hate list. Conservatives have for years complained about the increasing bias of CBS that went beyond the adversarial nature of Murrow, etc. Trump was the first to do something about it. With the deal facing a regulatory review, his Federal Communications Commission opened an investigation into bias at CBS since it operates over public airwaves (as opposed to cable), examining whether its news meets 'public interest' guidelines, and throttled the deal. Trump also personally sued the network over a '60 Minutes' interview with his 2024 Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, saying the new magazine deceptively edited her infamous word-salad answers. OK, maybe it did. But Trump won the election so where are the 'damages'? Regulatory OK coming Yet, as everyone who has been following my reporting knows, the lawsuit was inextricably tied to getting the deal done and Shari paid. Now that it has been settled — for $16 million plus the expectation of much more in public service ads for pro-Trump causes — word is the regulatory nod is coming in a few weeks. When that happens, Shari pockets about $2 billion, which sounds like a lot until you realize she was probably worth more than $40 billion when she inherited the property. Paramount and CBS will then be Ellison's problem. If I were in the news division, I would be afraid, very afraid.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Bill Belichick addresses Jordon Hudson relationship backlash
The post Bill Belichick addresses Jordon Hudson relationship backlash appeared first on ClutchPoints. Bill Belichick's return to the college sidelines was already headline-worthy, but his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson has taken the spotlight in ways no playbook could have predicted. Now the 73-year-old UNC head coach is speaking out, brushing aside the noise and making it clear that his priority lies between the hash marks, per TheSpun. Advertisement When asked about the recent swirl of controversies during a Tuesday press conference, Belichick kept it short: 'It is what it is.' That phrase alone captured his no-nonsense approach to the growing scrutiny surrounding his personal life. The drama hasn't exactly been subtle. From reports about Hudson demanding editorial control over a now-canceled Hard Knocks season, to her cutting into a CBS News interview, the off-field distractions have been persistent. Some even claimed Hudson was banned from UNC's football facilities, though that rumor has been refuted. Add in the couple's reported engagement and Pablo Torre's probing coverage of the situation, and you've got a media firestorm building in Chapel Hill. Still, Belichick isn't budging. 'I'm really focused on doing my job here at North Carolina… that's my big focus,' he told reporters, emphasizing the need to build a strong team and develop players' careers rather than engage with gossip. Advertisement No Sideline Access for Hudson As the questions kept coming, Belichick kept his cool. When asked whether Hudson would join him on the sidelines during games, he cracked a rare smile. 'No, she doesn't have any role in the UNC football program,' he said, dismissing that speculation before returning to his trademark mantra: 'There's been noise out there about a lot of different things. Our focus is day to day. Getting better. Stacking good days.' He also touched briefly on his book, The Art of Winning, saying it was a personal endeavor during his year off from coaching. Nothing more. Bill Belichick's responses may not satisfy every headline chaser, but they signal one thing loud and clear—he's not letting the off-field chatter interfere with what he's building at UNC. Whether the noise fades or grows louder, the Tar Heels kick off their season against TCU on September 1. Related: Reggie Miller flamed for unruly Game 3 Pacers outfit Related: Nikki Bella's sister eyes bombshell WWE reunion after 3 years
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
How to keep your dog safe and calm during Fourth of July fireworks
The Fourth of July is usually filled with festive, fun activities for humans: hot dogs, hamburgers, parades, beer and the beach — but for dogs, the Fourth is filled with fireworks and fear. Last year, around July 4, I heard the snap, crackle and pop, pop, pop of impromptu fireworks. What did I hear next? The jingle jangle of my dog's collars as they quickly bolted from the couch, where they had been happily napping, and fled to their kennels in an effort to get away from the loud noises and take shelter in their safe spot. In addition to being an Executive Producer for CBS News 24/7, I'm also a volunteer trainer for Canine Companions, which provides expertly-trained service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities — free of charge. I'm frequently asked for dog training and socialization tips, and am happy to share what I've learned from my time with Canine Companions. Canine Companions encourages its volunteer puppy raisers to expose their furry friends to a variety of experiences, sights and sounds, as they are important to help prepare the dogs for their service. After all, when they're working service animals, they will need to maintain focus through all distractions. Here's what they recommend for all pet owners who want to keep their dogs calm during fireworks: First and foremost, don't take your dog to a fireworks show if you can avoid it. Some dogs are great around loud noises, but it's too risky a situation if something goes wrong. Remember, dogs have much more sensitive hearing than humans and are able to hear sounds four times farther away than we can, and fireworks are very loud. It's also a good idea to exercise your puppy or dog earlier in the day. Physical and mental stimulation are both great ways to tire puppies out and prepare them to spend the evening in their kennel at home. Some fun ideas for mental stimulation include: Playing hide and seek in the house. To do this, leave your dog in a sit or down, then hide somewhere in the house. Call them to you, and be ready to praise and reward when they find you. Give their meal (or part of their meal) as a frozen Kong, or other toy, to occupy and stimulate them as they concentrate on getting their food. To make a frozen Kong, take a portion of the dog's meal and soak it in warm water for about 20-30 minutes until it has increased in size. Then, stuff the soaked kibble into the center of a Kong or similar toy and freeze. We recommend doing this a day or two in advance so it's already frozen when you need to use it. Have a few fun training sessions throughout the day! Work on some things that may require them to move a bit more, like jump, touch, recalls, etc. If you have a dog that has shown sensitivity to noises, or if this is a puppy's first Fourth of July and you're not sure how they will react, here are some helpful tips to make it a good experience:
