Jelly Rolltook a trip back to his rocky past recently.During aninterview withCBS Sunday Morning, the “Save Me” musician (born Jason DeFord), 39, revisited his former jail cell at the Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility in Nashville, which inspired many of his songs.“There was a time in my life where I truly thought this was it,” he recalled in an emotional conversation withCBS News Sunday Morning‘s Kelefa Sanneh. “And then, coming here after beingnominated for two Grammysjust hits different.”He added: “I wrote hundreds of songs right here. I wrote [the 2010 song] ‘Ridin’ All Alone’ chorus right here.”Jelly Roll on ‘CBS Sunday Morning’.Over the years, the country singer has had several run-ins of his own with the law — he’s been to jail himself some 40 times for various drug charges. He was only 14 when he was arrested for the first time.2023 was a landmark year for Jelly who landed three No. 1 country hits, dropped the smash albumWhitsitt Chapel(his seventh studio record, but first official foray into country) and wonnew artist of the year at the CMA Awards. He alsoscored two Grammy nominations, including one for best new artist.But before he could full lean into country music fame,Jelly had to clean up his act, and that meant re-evaluating his relationship with some of his vices.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Kelefa Sanneh and Jelly Roll during a visit to the rapper’s former jail cell in Nashville on ‘CBS Sunday Morning.'.“I had to learn that you could drink alcohol without doing cocaine. It took me a long time to learn that,” the “Son of a Sinner” performertold PEOPLE in December. “I’ve never said that, but that’s real. There was a long time where I just assumed, when people told me they drank without doing cocaine, I was like, I thought we only drank to do cocaine.”While Jelly never went to rehab for his drug addiction, he often visits centers across the country where he’ll bring warm meals, play some songs and “do a little encouraging.” He does the sameat juvenile centers.“I always said that if I ever got in this situation, I would do everything I could to give back,” he said. “The fact that just me showing up places can make people happy is such a gift, and I feel like if God gave me that gift, I should show up.”
Jelly Rolltook a trip back to his rocky past recently.
During aninterview withCBS Sunday Morning, the “Save Me” musician (born Jason DeFord), 39, revisited his former jail cell at the Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility in Nashville, which inspired many of his songs.
“There was a time in my life where I truly thought this was it,” he recalled in an emotional conversation withCBS News Sunday Morning‘s Kelefa Sanneh. “And then, coming here after beingnominated for two Grammysjust hits different.”
He added: “I wrote hundreds of songs right here. I wrote [the 2010 song] ‘Ridin’ All Alone’ chorus right here.”
Jelly Roll on ‘CBS Sunday Morning’.
Over the years, the country singer has had several run-ins of his own with the law — he’s been to jail himself some 40 times for various drug charges. He was only 14 when he was arrested for the first time.
2023 was a landmark year for Jelly who landed three No. 1 country hits, dropped the smash albumWhitsitt Chapel(his seventh studio record, but first official foray into country) and wonnew artist of the year at the CMA Awards. He alsoscored two Grammy nominations, including one for best new artist.
But before he could full lean into country music fame,Jelly had to clean up his act, and that meant re-evaluating his relationship with some of his vices.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Kelefa Sanneh and Jelly Roll during a visit to the rapper’s former jail cell in Nashville on ‘CBS Sunday Morning.’.
“I had to learn that you could drink alcohol without doing cocaine. It took me a long time to learn that,” the “Son of a Sinner” performertold PEOPLE in December. “I’ve never said that, but that’s real. There was a long time where I just assumed, when people told me they drank without doing cocaine, I was like, I thought we only drank to do cocaine.”
While Jelly never went to rehab for his drug addiction, he often visits centers across the country where he’ll bring warm meals, play some songs and “do a little encouraging.” He does the sameat juvenile centers.
“I always said that if I ever got in this situation, I would do everything I could to give back,” he said. “The fact that just me showing up places can make people happy is such a gift, and I feel like if God gave me that gift, I should show up.”
source: people.com
