Throughout his rise in music, Jelly Roll has been open about the time he spent in prison for robbery and drug charges. But now, he’s one step closer to being pardoned for those crimes. Tennessee’s Board of Parole unanimously recommended a pardon for the rapper turned country singer (born Jason DeFord), the Associated Press reported on April 22. The decision is now with Governor Bill Lee. “This was incredible,” Jelly told the AP. “I pray this goes through. But today was special for me, regardless.” Nashville sheriff Daron Hall said on X that he has been working to pardon Jelly for a year. The “I Am Not Okay” singer said last year that it’s difficult for him to perform internationally because, while he has been able to get a U.S. passport, some countries will not let him travel there because of his felonies. He has also been open about losing his right to vote as a felon. In 2023, he told Billboard he was unable to buy a house in a gated community because of his felony. “My money was welcome, but I wasn’t, all because of something I did [almost] 24 years ago,” he said at the time.
