Country Star Jelly Roll Uses His God-Given ‘Second Chance’ to Do This…

Published: April 29, 2025

By Mallory Mattingly

Country music star Jelly Roll uses his Nashville farm to find moments of solitude and stay grounded in his faith.

“Of all the things I’ve done, having cows seems to be one of the most surprising to people,” Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, told Fox News Digital. “And yes, the Hey Dudes have absolutely been over to the farm. But seriously, I want to say thank you for asking about the farm because it reminds me to bring something up. I think it really does in a real way represent what a second chance can really do. But also the reality of getting to that point, too.”

“I’ve been honest about how there can still be a real dark corner between my ears at times,” the country music star continued. “Ultimately, the farm is someplace that I find a lot of peace in — that space and separation — getting out there and just walking. It’s made a big difference for me on a lot of levels. It was a chance to [find] things that keep me on track. And I think it’s good when you can share that too.”

Jelly Roll recently collaborated with worship artist Brandon Lake on his single, “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” a track that touched Jelly Roll’s life.

“The first time I heard ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’, I haven’t had a record touch me like that in so long,” he said of the track in a video shared by Lake. “It’s been years since I worshipped the way that I worshipped to that song. Because like I carry my faith with me, but I’m also struggling, and very honest and open about that. I’ve been so bitter and hurt by the church, and their dogma, that I created my own.

“I believe music meets us where we are,” Jelly Roll continued. “I needed that record when I heard it, but then to double-back and be like, ‘Yo, there’s a chance you could work on this record’ with this guy, and I’m like, ‘Whoa. God sends me the record, and not only does he want me to listen to it and worship, he wants me to live with it and learn it.”

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A post shared by Brandon Lake (@brandonlake)

Jelly Roll and Lake performed the track together at Stagecoach this past weekend.

“For some people, music is just ‘music.’ But for people like us, music is magical. Music is medicine. Music can heal people. Music can be there for you in the darkest moments of our lives,” Jelly Roll wrote on Instagram. “I remember times in my life where music was the only friend that I had. Music brings us together. Stagecoach I believe in the power of music. Thank you so much for having me and all of these beautiful people, and allowing us to share our music. And to those beautiful people, thank you so much for coming out for me. You made me feel special on the biggest night of my life.”