Jelly Roll, the country music sensation with a past as colorful as his tattoos, recently shared a side-splitting story about his days as a less-than-successful criminal. During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Jelly Roll opened up about his numerous run-ins with the law, providing fans with a hilarious anecdote that underscores just how bad he was at being a criminal.
Howard Stern, known for his candid and often humorous interviews, kicked off the segment by poking fun at Jelly Roll’s criminal history. “You must have been the worst drug dealer because you were busted like 47 times,” Stern quipped. Jelly Roll, never one to shy away from his past, laughed and agreed, “I was the worst criminal ever.”
The story that followed had Stern and his audience in stitches. Jelly Roll recounted an incident from when he was just 15 years old. High on Xanax, he made a less-than-brilliant decision to run from the police. “You know how Xanax makes you a little slow anyway?” he began. “In my mind, when the police pulled us over, I was like, ‘I’m just gonna run.’ So I opened the door, and in my mind, I jumped out and sprinted across the field and almost made it.”
The reality, however, was far less dramatic. “I was so fat and Xanaxed out that I stood out, got two steps, and the cop was standing there watching me,” Jelly Roll recalled, laughing. “I fell, and he just laid on top of me. He felt so bad for me he didn’t even charge me for trying to run.”
This story is just one of many that Jelly Roll has shared about his troubled past. Despite his criminal record, which includes multiple stints in juvenile detention and prison, Jelly Roll has managed to turn his life around in a big way. Today, he is a chart-topping country music star with a string of hits and a dedicated fan base.
During the interview, Jelly Roll and Stern also discussed life in prison, where Jelly Roll often found himself in fights with other inmates. He used his time behind bars to dream about a future in music, creating beats on his steel bed and writing some of his earliest songs. These experiences have shaped his music and his approach to life, making him a relatable and inspirational figure for many.
Jelly Roll’s criminal past still haunts him in some ways. In 2023, he revealed that he lost out on his dream house because the homeowner’s association wouldn’t allow a felon to live in the neighborhood. He also faces challenges when trying to tour overseas due to his past felony convictions. Despite these setbacks, his career continues to soar. He recently scored his fourth consecutive No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart with “Halfway to Hell,” and his upcoming 2024 Beautifully Broken Tour is one of the most anticipated country tours of the summer.
Jelly Roll’s story is a testament to the power of redemption and the possibility of turning one’s life around, no matter how dire the circumstances. His candidness about his past, combined with his undeniable talent, has endeared him to fans around the world. As he continues to share his journey, both the highs and the lows, Jelly Roll remains a compelling figure in the world of country music.
The interview with Howard Stern provided a glimpse into the life of a man who has seen it all and lived to tell the tale. From his days as a bumbling criminal to his current status as a country music superstar, Jelly Roll’s story is one of resilience, humor, and the enduring power of music. As he continues to climb the charts and sell out shows, fans can look forward to more stories and more music from this one-of-a-kind artist.
