In the heart of Music City, where neon lights flicker against the backdrop of honky-tonks and heartbreak anthems, Jason Bradley DeFord—better known as Jelly Roll—has scripted one of the most raw, redemptive stories in modern country music. The Grammy-nominated artist, whose gravelly voice and tattooed exterior belie a soul scarred by addiction, incarceration, and self-doubt, has captivated audiences with hits like “Son of a Sinner” and “Save Me.” But behind the stage lights and sold-out arenas lies a battle far more personal and perilous: a war against his own body. Weighing over 550 pounds at his heaviest, Jelly Roll teetered on the edge of despair, convinced each night could be his last. “He felt like he was gonna die every night when he went to sleep,” recalls his health coach, Gary Brecka, in a revelation that underscores the darkness preceding Jelly Roll’s astonishing 200-pound weight loss. This is the story of a man who clawed his way from the brink, transforming pain into purpose and inspiring millions along the way.

Born on December 4, 1984, in Antioch, Tennessee—a gritty suburb of Nashville—Jason DeFord’s early life was a far cry from the glamour of the Grand Ole Opry. Raised in a working-class family, he navigated a childhood marred by instability and temptation. His father, a meat salesman, and his mother, who battled her own addictions, provided a home filled with love but shadowed by hardship. By age 14, DeFord had already encountered the cold grip of the justice system, arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to sell. It was the first of many brushes with the law, culminating in a decade-long cycle of incarceration that would define his youth.

DeFord’s descent into crime escalated in his late teens. At 16, he was charged as an adult for aggravated robbery after a botched attempt to steal drugs, landing him an 18-month sentence in a juvenile facility. But the revolving door of prison didn’t stop there. Over the next decade, he served multiple stints behind bars, primarily for drug-related offenses, including a violation of probation that extended his time. “I was in and out of jail from 14 to about 23,” he reflected in a 2023 Hulu documentary, Jelly Roll: Save Me. These years were a crucible, forging his resilience but also deepening his addictions—to drugs, food, and self-destructive behaviors. Cocaine, pills, and heroin became crutches, numbing the pain of a life derailed.

Amid the chaos, music emerged as DeFord’s lifeline. Influenced by Southern hip-hop icons like Three 6 Mafia and UGK, he began rapping in prison, honing his craft on makeshift beats. Upon release, he adopted the moniker “Jelly Roll”—a nickname from his mother, poking fun at his size—and dove into Nashville’s underground scene. His early mixtapes, blending raw rap with country storytelling, gained traction on YouTube, amassing millions of views. Collaborations with artists like Struggle Jennings and Yelawolf propelled him forward, but success was bittersweet. As his career gained momentum, his weight ballooned, a silent saboteur fueled by emotional eating and the stresses of fame.

By 2022, as Jelly Roll transitioned to country music with his breakthrough album Ballads of the Broken, he tipped the scales at over 500 pounds. The physical toll was immense: sleep apnea, joint pain, and a constant fog of fatigue. But the mental anguish was worse. “I think that people who become as big as I became, when they lose the weight, they’re kind of ashamed,” he admitted in interviews. “They’re so ashamed that they go hide and lose the weight, and then they come back out and they don’t really know how to interact with the world.” This shame compounded his addictions, creating a vicious cycle where food became both comfort and cage.

The darkest chapter unfolded in late 2022, when Jelly Roll’s health hit rock bottom. Weighing 550 pounds, he struggled with basic tasks. Flying on private jets—a perk of his rising stardom—became a humiliation; he could barely fit into the seats. Driving, he cranked the radio to drown out his wheezing breaths at stoplights. Nights were terror-filled rituals: propping himself on his side with pillows to prevent suffocation or vomiting if he rolled over. “Every morning that he would wake up, he said, as soon as he would wake up, he would thank God that he didn’t die that night,” Brecka recounted on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast. “Because he felt like he was gonna die every night when he went to sleep.”

This fear wasn’t hyperbole; it was a visceral dread born from years of neglecting his body. Jelly Roll’s addictions had shifted from drugs to food, a coping mechanism for the traumas of prison and loss. “God’s given me this opportunity to have my music serve the world, and I feel like I’m gonna die,” he confided to Brecka during their first meeting. The biologist and longevity expert, who has worked with stars like Dana White and Mark Wahlberg, described the encounter as “very sad.” On a flight to Vegas, Jelly Roll poured out his heart, detailing a “day in the life” that was anything but glamorous.

The turning point came via a simple DM: “Do you work with fat people?” Jelly Roll messaged Brecka, a founder of The Ultimate Human, in December 2022. Brecka, intrigued by the raw honesty, flew to meet him. Blood work and gene testing followed, revealing the extent of his health crisis. “He is one of the most genuine human beings,” Brecka said, praising Jelly Roll’s commitment. Thus began a journey that would strip away not just pounds, but layers of shame and fear.

Jelly Roll’s transformation was methodical and multifaceted. Teaming with nutritionist Ian Larios and a cadre of trainers, he overhauled his diet: high-protein meals, portion control, and ditching junk food. “It’s been all food,” he told Joe Rogan in October 2024, after shedding 100 pounds. Exercise started small—walking arenas during tours—but escalated to daily pickup basketball games with his crew, turning soundchecks into sweat sessions. “The first day, it’s like me and three or four dudes. The crew heard, the next day [there was] 30,” he shared.

Milestones marked his progress. In May 2024, he completed his first 5K, a feat unimaginable at 550 pounds. By August 2025, he’d lost 200 pounds, dipping under 300 for the first time in decades. “I can fit in Louis Vuitton now. Pray for my bank account,” he joked on Instagram after meeting the Pope in Vatican City. His wife, Bunnie Xo, a podcaster and his rock since 2016, fiercely defended him against trolls questioning his methods. “Stop judging,” she snapped on social media, slamming “shallow comments” about his dramatic change.

Challenges persisted. Weight loss unearthed old demons—food addiction, body dysmorphia. “As I’m losing the weight, by nature I want to go walk and do more stuff because I’m lighter. I feel better,” he said. Yet, the mental shift lagged; he grappled with interacting in a slimmer body, hiding during transformation out of shame.

Today, Jelly Roll’s journey fuels his advocacy. He aims for Men’s Health‘s cover in March 2026, targeting another 50 pounds lost. His music, infused with vulnerability, resonates deeper—songs like “Need a Favor” mirror his redemption. Fans rally, sharing stories of their own transformations, turning his pain into a beacon.

From prison cells to platinum records, Jelly Roll’s saga is a testament to grit. “I’m ready to commit to changing,” he told Brecka. In doing so, he didn’t just save his life—he ignited hope for others in the dark.