Country-rap artist Jelly Roll (real name Jason DeFord) may be on top of the world right now but he had to spend a lot of time in the hole before he got there. Notoriously jailed 40 times, he spent a decade drifting in and out of jail on various drug charges.
It wasn’t until a prison guard told him he was the father of a baby girl in 2008 that he finally got the motivation to do whatever it took to get out of jail and stay out.
He completely changed his life. And now? He’s paying it forward and doing the same for others.
Teenage Concert-Goer Makes Last-Minute Decision That Changes Her Life
Recently, Jelly Roll performed a free concert at the Assembly Food Hall’s Skydeck in Nashville. He was one song in when he spotted 18-year-old high school graduate, Joy Gadalla, in the crowd.
A huge fan, she and her cousin had waited in line for five hours to see him perform. She told WKRN that it was a “much-needed outing” after spending the past month looking after her grandmother in the hospital.
For Joy, it was more than just a concert. It was the chance to finally see her idol and the person who helped shape her life, even if he didn’t know it.
Standing mere feet away from the stage she made the split-second decision to type out a message on her phone. Holding it aloft she said a little prayer that he’d see it.
“I took like a black picture and then wrote, ‘Please pay my tuition,’ and just held it up.”
He didn’t just see it…he did something about it.
“I’m going to give you the opportunity to change your life right here on this date,” he said, stopping the concert and pointing at her.
“I’m gonna send somebody out from my team to get you. We’re gonna talk about what college you go to and what your GPA is, and if all that checks out we will help you get through school…”
Shocked, Joy started sobbing as the audience erupted in applause and cheers.
The Save Me singer was true to his word. While no further details have been released, she told WKRN that his management team has been in touch.
Jelly Roll Made a Profound Difference in Her Life – Twice
What Jelly Roll didn’t know at the time was that this wasn’t the first time he had impacted Joy’s life.
Joy is a first-generation Egyptian immigrant. Her family moved to Antioch, Tennessee in pursuit of the “American Dream.” The transition hasn’t been an easy one though. Relentless bullying drove her to switch to online school in seventh grade and she turned to alcohol to cope.
It’s something the Grammy-nominated, Country Music Award winner can relate to. Throughout his childhood, he struggled to fit in. Made fun of for his size, his clothes, and his background, he understands the devastating effects of bullying and addiction.
Joy just graduated this spring with a 3.8 GPA. It’s been one year and seven months since she took her last drink. But she didn’t do it alone. She credits Jelly Roll’s story of overcoming addiction and incarceration for inspiring her to get sober and to do more with her life.
In fact, she enrolled at Belmont University just days before the show, hoping to pursue a career as a criminal justice lawyer.
However, Belmont U comes at a steep cost — $40,000 per year — a sum Joy knew she could never realistically afford.
The night before the concert, the grim reality of her financial situation set in.
“I was crying, I was stressing, I took a moment to breath and pray, and I knew that everything was going to be okay,” Joy recalled. “I knew God was going to take care of everything.”
And that’s when Jelly Roll stepped in.
The Power of Showing Up For Others
Jelly Roll is refreshingly open about his turbulent past and his journey to overcome his struggles. And it’s this authenticity and relatability that has endeared him to his legions of dedicated fans.
Known for his philanthropic endeavors, the 39-year-old singer has made it his mission to show up for others and make a difference in their lives. And he’s certainly “on a roll.” This is just the latest in a long line of good deeds.
In addition to offering to pay for a stranger’s college tuition, he is a familiar face at rehab and juvenile centers across the country, spending his downtime bringing warm meals, singing songs, and doing “a little encouraging.”
He also supports various causes, including organizations focused on addiction recovery, mental health, and anti-bullying initiatives.
He believes in using your gifts to show up and give back to the people who need it most.
“I always said that if I ever got in this situation, I would do everything I could to give back.”
Jelly Roll via CBS News
