Jelly Roll offered a candid glimpse into his sobriety as he embraces a healthier lifestyle.
The 39-year-old country music star revealed that marijuana has been instrumental in aiding his battle with mental health challenges and overcoming dependence on harder substances.
'I get in trouble for this, all the time, but my stance on marijuana will always be the same: I believe marijuana has helped me in so many regards, with my anxiety,' the Save Me singer told Taste of Country on Friday. 'This is a hot button topic, but, truly, marijuana has kept me sober.'
Jelly Roll added, 'I think a world without weed, Jelly Roll’s drinking codeine and popping Xanax and snorting cocaine again. But a world with weed, I’ll be alright.'
The two-time Grammynominee admitted that his interpretation of 'sobriety' diverges from the conventional norm.
Jelly Roll offered a candid glimpse into his sobriety as he embraces a healthier lifestyle; (pictured in May)
The 39-year-old country music star revealed that marijuana has been instrumental in aiding his battle with mental health challenges and overcoming dependence on harder substances
'I know that I have friends that don't do that,' he continued. 'I have friends that are in the program that are totally against any kind of mind-altering anything.
'I respect that. I have so much respect for those people. That's just not how my sobriety worked out.'
The artist - real name Jason DeFord — has candidly shared his lifelong struggle with substance abuse disorder, speaking openly about the challenges he has faced for most of his life.
He was first locked up at age 13, held in a juvenile facility, after being caught with marijuana. By the time he was 15, the musician had tried many drugs including pills, cocaine, acid, mushrooms and meth.
At just 16, DeFord found himself facing an 18-month sentence, tried as an adult for an aggravated assault charge stemming from an ill-fated attempt to seize marijuana while armed.
Throughout his adolescence and early adulthood, he became a familiar face within the justice system, cycling in and out of incarceration for a litany of minor infractions, from probation violations to failed drug screenings.
Among his offenses was possession of crack with the intent to distribute.
He vowed to turn his life around after the birth of his daughter. DeFord, then 23, was in prison when he learned that Bailee Ann had been born.
'I get in trouble for this, all the time, but my stance on marijuana will always be the same: I believe marijuana has helped me in so many regards, with my anxiety,' the Save Me singer told Taste of Country on Friday; (pictured in May)
Jelly Roll added, 'I think a world without weed, Jelly Roll’s drinking codeine and popping Xanax and snorting cocaine again. But a world with weed, I’ll be alright'
The artist - real name Jason DeFord — has candidly shared his lifelong struggle with substance abuse disorder, speaking openly about the challenges he has faced for most of his life; (picutred in April)
Now, Jelly Roll is prioritizing his health, even gearing up for a 5K race, a commitment that has already led him to shed an impressive 70 pounds since the year began.
'I'm probably down 70-something pounds,' Jelly (born Jason Bradley DeFord) told Peoplein a new interview. 'I've been really kicking a** man.'
The Antioch, Tennessee native — who recently said he bailed on a meeting with Diddy — went on to disclose the workout routine that he's been following since he made a commitment to get healthier ahead of the run/walk.
'I'm doing two to three miles a day, four to six days a week. I'm doing 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna, six minutes in a cold plunge every day,' he revealed, before sharing how he's also changed up his diet and is 'eating healthy right now.'
The Tennessee native began his new healthier way of living in January when he committed to the 5K run/walk on May 7; he's seen before the weight loss in November 2021
Jelly also gives credit for his healthier mentality to his wife Bunnie XO (otherwise known as Alyssa DeFord), 44, who's been by his side encouraging him the entire time; the couple are pictured in February
While the Save Me star has been overjoyed with how good the initial results of his new health journey feel, he is far from done with his mind and body makeover.
'I feel really good,' he said, and then proceeded to open up about the immediate future. 'I was thinking, I plan on losing another 100, 100-and-something [pounds]. If I feel this good down this weight, man, I can only imagine what I'm going to feel like by the time I go on tour.'
While Jelly has a number of concerts booked over the course of the next four months, The Beautifully Broken Tour with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay doesn't officially begin until he hits the stage at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 27.
The tour takes him all over the U.S. through until October 27 when he plays the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
