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By Kayla DeKraker
From life behind bars to winning awards, Jelly Roll has overcome much through Christ, and his work advocating for literacy in prisons hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, knows all too well the struggles that prisoners face because he was one. Arrested at age 15, he faced multiple charges in his late teens and early adulthood.
But he learned valuable lessons durning that time, including the importance of literacy. He recently received the Global Literacy Award at the World Literacy Summit for his work to help prisoners read and write.
Country Living reported that Jelly Roll received the award “for improving foundational literacy within the justice system domestically and internationally, especially among young offenders, through educational programs and resources.”
The World Literacy Foundation has made it their mission to help those who struggle with literacy skills.
“At the World Literacy Foundation, we believe in literacy as the foundation of lifelong learning and education,” the organization’s website says. “People who cannot read or write experience difficulties with simple everyday tasks such as reading the label of a medicine bottle, filling in a job application or understanding a traffic sign.” Their work helps people “acquire literacy skills” so they can have “better opportunities.”
During his award ceremony, sheriff, Michigan governor hopeful and creator of I.G.N.I.T.E. (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) Chris Swanson celebrated the singer, and Jelly Roll praised Swanson for his work.
“This man is special, he should be in charge of America as far as I’m concerned,” Jelly Roll said of Swanson. “He’s doing this in a market that is underserved, that is under cared for in every way…out of everything he said, what got me was he said ‘Hey, will you do me a favor?” Swanson asked Jelly Roll to join the ceremony for graduates, Jelly Roll explained. “I cried. I did, I might cry now,” Jelly Roll teared up as he explained that Swanson planned on bringing the whole jail to celebrate them.
People in the comment section of the video shared heartfelt comments about the two men’s work to help prisoners. “❤️❤️❤️Love both of you guys! Keep growing, blessing the world and showing up! 💥💥💥💥💥” one user said. Another person added, “I’m not crying. You’re crying! Stop ruining my make-up.”
On the heels of this special event, Jelly Roll is likely to receive a pardon for his past crimes in Tennessee.
Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall shared on Tuesday that the state Board of Parole voted to pardon Jelly Roll, and now his fate lies in the hands of the governor. The post reads, “A year ago, I wrote @GovBillLee asking for a full Pardon for Jason ‘Jelly Roll’ Deford…..today the Board unanimously recommended his Pardon. It’s now in the hands of our Governor.”
A year ago, I wrote @GovBillLee asking for a full Pardon for Jason “Jelly Roll” Deford…..today the Board unanimously recommended his Pardon. It’s now in the hands of our Governor. pic.twitter.com/NACZOGW2y0
— Daron Hall (@DaronHall7) April 22, 2025
Governor Lee has not yet addressed the request for a pardon, but Jelly Roll’s dramatic life change and philanthropic work is a reminder that no one is too far from the grace of God.
Read Next: Jelly Roll Launches Music Studio Inside Juvenile Detention Center: ‘Bring Hope’
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