Jelly Roll Receives Official Pardon from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee
“It was evident to me that this is a man who should get a pardon,” Gov. Lee stated.
Gov. Lee gives Jelly Roll news of his official pardon, December 18, 2025, at the Tennessee Residence. Photo Courtesy Brandon Hull, Office of Gov. Bill Lee
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, has received a full pardon from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Gov. Lee announced Thursday (Dec. 18) that he was granting pardons to 33 individuals, with the singer-songwriter included among those recipients.
The pardon represents formal forgiveness from the state for two felony convictions in Davidson County, Tennessee which took place when he was convicted of robbery as a teenager and later, convicted of possession with intent to sell cocaine while on parole.
“It was evident to me that this is a man who should get a pardon,” Lee told reporters on a call, according to The Tennessean via USA Today.
Gov. Lee urged that Jelly Roll did not get special treatment due to his celebrity status after the “Save Me” singer petitioned for a pardon last year.
Lee shared that he “would be treated the same as every single person that asks for clemency.”
The Tennessee Board of Parole recommended his pardon earlier this year, citing the transformation Jelly Roll has made.
“Jelly Roll’s story was remarkable, redemptive, and powerful, and that it was evident he should get a pardon,” Lee confirmed, according to WSMV.
Jelly Roll has yet to make an official statement, however, his legal team, David Raybin and Ben Raybin of Raybin & Weissman, released a statement to Billboard: “We can confirm Governor Bill Lee granted a full pardon to Jelly Roll earlier today as part of his announced executive clemency decisions.”
Jelly Roll, along with the other 32 pardon recipients, has remained incident-free since his release. In the years that followed, he has turned his life around and used his platform to advocate for juveniles within the justice system. He has also visited prisons across the country, sharing messages of hope with incarcerated individuals and demonstrating that meaningful change is possible.
The news arrives just days after Jelly Roll was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.
During the podcast, Jelly Roll revealed he was seeking a pardon and shared that he had been “praying” for a positive outcome.
“Well, this is interesting. This is a slippery slope for me. I am up for a pardon this year. My paperwork has been sent to my governor, and he considers pardons every December. So, every day, I’m just kind of praying,” Jelly Roll said.
At the time, he explained to Rogan, “Tennessee has a zero forgiveness policy for violent offenders…So, I would be pardoned, but I wouldn’t be exonerated. The charges aren’t completely gone.”
He admitted that he believes the state should offer a “path to redemption” in the state.
“I want to go to them and go, ‘Look, I understand if you’ve ever ra**d somebody or killed somebody, but I think that every … it should … there should be some path to redemption.’ Even if it takes 30 years,” Jelly Roll said.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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