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Tennessee governor pardons country star Jelly Roll, who has sought redemption from criminal past
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This photo provided by the Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff's Office shows country music star Jelly Roll, whose legal name is Jason DeFord, speaking to inmates at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Annex in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 25, 2025. - photo by Reginald Scott/Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff's Office via AP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's governor pardoned country star Jelly Roll on Thursday for his criminal past in the state, acknowledging the Nashville native's long road back from drugs and prison through soul-searching, songwriting and advocacy for second chances. The rapper-turned-singer whose legal name is Jason Deford has spoken for years about his redemption arc before diverse audiences, from people serving time in correctional centers to concert crowds and even in testimony before Congress. Republican Gov.