Here's a story of redemption that is perfect for the Christmas season.
I'm warning readers in advance that this is one of those stories that is so raw and real, most people will need at least a few tissues to get through the whole thing. There isn't any manufactured tugging at the heartstrings happening here, either. The redemptive story of Nashville-based, Grammy-winning country music singer Jelly Roll (real name: Jason Deford) is better than anything a movie producer could make up for the silver screen. But before we get to that, something else almost as great happened for Jelly Roll recently.
It took place during a sit-down with Joe Rogan on his Joe Rogan Experience JRE) podcast, when the host asked Deford to talk about his past, including a time when he was not living a good life. In fact, in 2008, Jelly Roll was in prison. One of the small things that helped him cope with life then was music, the dinger said, especially the music of country star Craig Morgan.
Deford was not able to be present for his daughter's birth, and Morgan's song, "Almost Home," was instrumental in getting the new dad in the state of mind to stay out of prison for good. Fast forward to the time when Deford was on supervised release, and wearing a monitoring device on his ankle. He loved Morgan so much, he decided to see the star perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Back to now. Rogan had a big surprise for his guest, with Deford learning from his country music hero, Craig Morgan, that he has been invited to join the Grand Ole Opry.
🇺🇸 FROM A JAIL CELL TO THE GRAND OLE OPRY: JELLY ROLL'S INCREDIBLE FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 11, 2025
This is one of the most full circle moments you'll ever see.
In 2008, singer Jelly Roll sat in a jail cell listening to Craig Morgan's "Almost Home" while his daughter was being born.
He… pic.twitter.com/92MeM6hS91
How awesome is that. Deford has been open about his past, which included drug addiction and, from the time he was 14, on a seeming revolving door of prison stints over a decade, with "convictions including aggravated robbery, shoplifting, drug possession and drug dealing."
That's all now getting wiped away, with the stroke of a pen with one of the annual pardons from TN's Republican Governor Bill Lee. It's something the Volunteer State lawmaker traditionally hands out right about now in the spirit of giving and love:
Tennessee's governor pardoned country star Jelly Roll on Thursday for his criminal past in the state, acknowledging the Nashville native's long road back from drugs and prison through soul-searching, songwriting and advocacy for second chances.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 19, 2025
The rapper-turned-singer, whose… pic.twitter.com/PKUmTdsTvp
Republican Gov. Bill Lee issued his pardon after friends and civic leaders of the Grammy-nominated musician joined in an outpouring of support.
He has said a pardon would make it easier for him to travel internationally for concert tours and to perform Christian missionary work without requiring burdensome paperwork.
He was one of 33 people to receive pardons Thursday from Lee, who for years has issued clemency decisions around the Christmas season. Lee said Jelly Roll's application underwent the same monthslong thorough review as other applicants. The state parole board gave a nonbinding, unanimous recommendation for Jelly Roll's pardon in April.
Gov. Lee said during a press conference that Deford's story is "remarkable, and it's a redemptive, powerful story, which is what you look for and what you hope for." He added that while he hasn't had a chance to meet the singer, he would like to.
You could say he's on a roll. The man known as Jelly Roll, who did many things wrong in the past, has now come full-circle. It's beautiful for someone worthy to get rewarded for turning his life around. We need to hear more of these stories, especially with so much evil happening in the world in recent weeks and months. Merry Christmas!
Update [12/19/25, 10:13 PM ET]: A reader who's in the know about Jelly Roll pointed me to this awesome and emotional performance... with Craig Morgan and his fan from so many years back performing the song on the Grand Ole Opry stage. "Music can change lives," says Morgan. Chills!
WATCH:
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