Jelly Roll Gets Candid About Alcohol Addiction

Photo byNathan PowersonUnsplash

Jelly Roll, a.k.a. Jason Bradley DeFord, has long been truthful about his criminal past and problems with addiction.

Recently in an interview, the country singer revealed a shocking detail from his earlier years, and shared that he was court-ordered to attend AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings when he was only 14 years of age, according to Daily Mail.

His road through recovery and addiction has played a critical part in shaping both his music and his life, and offered inspiration for anthems on ‘Beautifully Broken,’ his most recent album.

Jelly Roll candid about attending AA at only 14-years-old

Jason, who faced over 40 arrests, most linked to drug-associated offenses, talked about his introduction to AA during an interview with host Ania Hammar on SiriusXM's 'The Highway.'

Video courtesy: The Moment Jelly Roll Decided to Change His Life for Good by PowerfulJRE

Recalling his troubled past, Jelly Roll discussed that he was only a teen when a judge made the choice to send him to a 12-step meeting.

Jelly Roll shared how those rooms would later on become a refuge for him.

For Jason, NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) became more than mere mandatory sessions; they became spaces in which he could find a sense of community and draw inspiration.

Jason explained how leaving an AA meeting always left him with a sense of being "inspired," even if he had not completely grasped the magnitude of what was going on at such a youthful age.

Jason's experiences with recovery and addiction also influenced his musical career

Jason’s experiences with recovery and addiction haven’t just shaped his personal life, yet have also had an influence on his musical career.

‘Beautifully Broken,’ his most recent album, contains multiple songs that draw right from his road with alcohol, drugs, and time spent in NA and AA meetings.

One standout track, 'I Am Not Okay', was inspired by his time going to recovery meetings.

The song is the lead single, and delves deep into the struggles and emotions related to addiction, which makes it a powerful song for anybody who has faced the same type of struggles.

The country singer also spoke candidly about the hardship of breaking free from substance abuse in a New York Times interview.

Even now, he goes to meetings, although he no longer actively shares anything. He just quietly observes, and takes in the lessons and messages still resonating with him.

For Jelly Roll, those meetings are still a critical part of his continuous process of recovery.

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