Jelly Roll’s Fame Reaches New Heights As He Turns into ‘California Well-known’

Jelly Roll is contemporary off the most recent season of “Star Search,” and regardless of being within the music trade for greater than twenty years, he has entered a brand new part of stardom.

Having risen from a troubled previous to widespread recognition later in life, Jelly Roll stays grounded, by no means taking his fame or platform as a right.

Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord, was a decide on Netflix’s reboot of the truth present “Star Search,” and in a dialog with Individualsthe 41-year-old nation singer shared how he realized his recognition had reached a brand new stage.

Jelly Roll stated he all the time goes to Rodeo Drive each time he visits California, nevertheless it’s the primary time he was acknowledged on the road. “This present was the primary time I could not stroll down Rodeo Drive. For actual. I am California well-known now,” he stated.

In accordance with Jelly Roll, he likes going to Rodeo Drive as a result of nobody pays him any consideration there. “This was the primary time me and my spouse have been acknowledged,” he stated.

Jelly Roll’s judging stint on “Star Search” is one thing new for the singer, describing himself as a “white duck in a yellow duck pond” when it got here to the brand new expertise. Initially, he thought he was added to the panel as a “ruse,” somebody to combine in “with a bunch of actual A-list actors.”

Nonetheless, he was pleasantly stunned to search out out his co-judges, Chrissy Teigen and Sarah Michelle Gellar, have been genuinely good folks. In reality, they’ve developed fairly a friendship throughout their time as judges, with Jelly Roll visiting their properties and spending time along with them exterior the present.

“They’ve been supportive pals. I have been invited into their properties. I’ve frolicked with their youngsters. They’ve handled me like household from day one,” the “Save Me” singer shared, including, “We’ll be pals eternally.”

Jelly Roll started his music profession in 2003, nevertheless it wasn’t till his 2020 music “Save Me” went viral that he started getting widespread consideration. In 2023, he gained the New Artist of the 12 months award on the CMA Awards, adopted by two Grammy nominations a 12 months later.

Climbing to the highest was an uphill battle for Jelly Roll, who had a hard childhood that led to incarceration. Regardless of the challenges, he made vital adjustments in his life and turned to music, beginning out as a hip-hop artist, later pivoting to rock and nation.

“I cried like a child in entrance of 12 strangers,” Jelly Roll stated, referring to the second he signed his first document deal. It was an emotional second for the singer, who was decided to make it large within the music trade.

Jelly Roll earned first Grammy wins in February 2026, bringing residence three awards for Greatest Up to date Christian Music Efficiency, Greatest Up to date Nation Album, and Greatest Nation Duo/Group Efficiency.

Jelly Roll, who’s a proud Christian, all the time had religion that all the things would work out for him. Regardless of taking years to search out enormous success, he persevered, saying, “I simply all the time had religion that God had an even bigger objective for what I used to be making an attempt to do.”

In 2024, Jelly Roll spoke about his recognition and successsaying, “It signifies that God will all the time use the least possible messenger with the largest message, each single time.” With regards to his fame, he makes use of it to unfold his story and ship a message to others like him who’ve struggled or are struggling.

“I’d suppose that individuals take a look at me, and so they see a bit of me in them. And when I’ve a small victory, now they’re like, ‘That is one for us’,” he defined.