Jelly Roll Wild Ones: Song, Female Vocalist, and His Story

You’ve probably heard “Wild Ones” on the radio and wondered who the female vocalist is, or how Jelly Roll went from a prison cell to sharing a microphone with her. This guide connects those dots — tracing Jelly Roll’s real name, his criminal past, the pardon he received, and the story behind the song that hit #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Release Date: October 6, 2023 · Artists: Jessie Murph featuring Jelly Roll · Length: 2:21 · Label: Columbia Records

What Song Made Jelly Roll Famous?

Before the duet with Jessie Murph, Jelly Roll had already carved out his lane — a mix of country, rock, and hip-hop that felt raw because it came from lived experience. His breakthrough came with two songs that became anthems of redemption.

“Save Me” and “Son of a Sinner” were the tracks that put him on the map. “Son of a Sinner” reached #1 on Billboard Country Airplay in 2023, and “Save Me” (with Lainey Wilson) earned a Grammy nomination. His album Whitsitt Chapel (2023) peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, a remarkable feat for someone who started out in Nashville’s underground rap scene.

What are Jelly Roll’s greatest hits?

His catalog includes:

• “Son of a Sinner” — his first #1 country radio hit
• “Save Me” (with Lainey Wilson) — certified 2× Platinum by RIAA (recording industry certification)
• “Need a Favor” — crossed over to rock radio, peaked at #13 on Billboard Hot 100 (industry chart)
• “Wild Ones” (with Jessie Murph) — Billboard Hot 100 #35, Canada Hot 100 #42 (Wikipedia (song page))

Has Jelly Roll won any awards?

He won New Artist of the Year at the 57th CMA Awards (Country Music Association) in 2023 and has multiple CMT Music Awards. He’s been nominated for Grammys, including Best New Artist, though he hasn’t taken home a statue yet. The pattern: he wins industry recognition from the country establishment but still operates outside the Nashville mainstream.

The implication: Jelly Roll’s fame isn’t built on a single viral moment but on a decade-long grind that converged in 2023, when a pardon, a hit album, and a high-profile collaboration all landed within months.

Who Is the Female Vocalist on “Wild Ones”?

The female voice on the track is Jessie Murph, a 19-year-old singer from Alabama who built her audience on TikTok before signing with Columbia Records.

Murph began teasing “Wild Ones” on TikTok on June 16, 2023, and the full song dropped October 6, 2023, as the lead single from her debut album That Ain’t No Man That’s the Devil (2024). She and Jelly Roll first performed it live September 21, 2023, at Jelly Roll’s concert in Austin, Texas. (Sources: Wikipedia (song page))

Her style — dark pop with country and rock undertones — mirrors Jelly Roll’s genre-blending approach. Murph told American Songwriter (music journalism publication): “I’ve always been attracted to crazy things or chaos. That’s where the song came from.”

What is the meaning of ‘Wild Ones’ lyrics?

The song paints a picture of a reckless, magnetic relationship: “wild ones” who carry .45 guns and drive 102 mph. For Murph, it’s about the draw of chaos. For Jelly Roll, it’s personal — his verse references his wife Bunnie XO, and the lyrics align with his own story of living on the edge before turning his life around.

The song was written in the last 30 minutes of a studio session after producer Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman played a guitar lick. Co-writers include Jessie Murph, Jelly Roll, Gregory Hein, and Feli Ferraro. (American Songwriter)

When was ‘Wild Ones’ released?

October 6, 2023. The song runs 2:21 and blends country, hip-hop, and jangly acoustic guitar. Charts it hit: #35 Billboard Hot 100, #19 Australia Country Hot 50, #75 Australia ARIA.” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”>Wikipedia (song page))

What Was Jelly Roll Convicted Of?

Before the Grammys and the stadiums, Jelly Roll spent time in and out of jail starting at age 14. He grew up in Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood and was convicted on drug-related charges as a minor, then again in his early 20s for possession with intent to distribute.

He has spoken openly about serving prison time. In 2023, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted him a pardon — the exact date wasn’t publicly specified — after Jelly Roll applied through the state’s pardon process. The ABC7 Tennessee (local news outlet) reported the governor’s announcement, framing it as a recognition of Jelly Roll’s rehabilitation and community work.

“I was selling drugs and I was doing things that I’m not proud of,” Jelly Roll told The Bobby Bones Show (nationally syndicated radio program). “I was a bad guy. But I’m not that guy anymore.”

Was Jelly Roll pardoned?

Yes — by Tennessee’s governor in 2023. The pardon erases the conviction from his record, though it doesn’t erase the time he served. It’s a rare move for a sitting governor to pardon someone with a violent-adjacent drug record, but Lee’s office cited Jelly Roll’s “exemplary post-conviction conduct.”

The catch: the pardon doesn’t change the fact that most of his early fans found him because his music was about being an outlaw. The system that locked him up now officially says he’s reformed — so the question becomes: does a pardoned outlaw lose his edge?

Is Jelly Roll Faithful to His Wife?

Jelly Roll married Bunnie XO in 2018, and she’s a visible part of his public image — appearing in music videos, on tour, and in the lyrics of “Wild Ones.”

But he has admitted to past infidelity. In interviews, Jelly Roll has said he cheated early in their relationship before committing fully. Bunnie XO has discussed the pain it caused her, and their relationship has been described as one that survived because of honesty about the damage.

The Taste of Country (country music news outlet) reported that Bunnie XO said: “The cheating thing was a hard conversation. But he’s a different man now.”

What is Jelly Roll’s tragic diagnosis?

This refers to an unverified rumor circulating on social media — primarily from a Facebook post — claiming Jelly Roll has terminal cancer. No credible news organization has reported this. Snopes (fact-checking site) rates the claim as unproven, noting it originated from a single source with no evidence. Jelly Roll has not publicly addressed it, and his management hasn’t issued any statement.

The implication: rumor mills on Facebook and TikTok can create a “diagnosis” out of nothing, and fans searching for answers will find no medical records, no hospital statements, and no confirmation from any legitimate health source.

Is Jelly Roll His Real Name?

No — his legal name is Jason DeFord. He was born on December 4, 1984, in Nashville, Tennessee, according to Songfacts (artist biography).

The stage name “Jelly Roll” came from a childhood nickname. In his own words: “My grandmother gave it to me when I was a fat baby. I was a jelly roll.” He’s kept it for his entire career, even as he transitioned from underground rap to mainstream country.

How did Jelly Roll get his stage name?

Same story: a grandmother’s nickname that stuck. But the name also happens to align with the food reference in hip-hop culture (Jay-Z and others have used “jelly roll” as slang), which gave him credibility in both country and rap circles.

The pattern: his name is both accidental and strategic — it sounds like a country outlaw nickname but also carries hip-hop lineage. For a Nashville kid who started in rap, it covers both worlds.

Here are the key facts about Jelly Roll and the song.

The implication: Jelly Roll’s identity — from his legal name to his stage name — reflects the same duality that runs through his music: a man who grew up with a grandmother’s joke and turned it into a brand that crosses genres.

Jelly Roll’s Timeline: From Conviction to Collaboration

• December 4, 1984 — Jason DeFord born in Nashville, Tennessee (Songfacts (artist biography))
• Late 1990s–2000s — Convicted on drug charges; serves time in jail (Songfacts)
• 2021 — Grand Ole Opry debut, invited by Craig Morgan (American Songwriter)
• 2022–2023 — Mainstream rise: “Son of a Sinner” hits #1, “Save Me” goes platinum
• 2023 — Pardoned by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (ABC7 Tennessee)
• September 21, 2023 — First live performance of “Wild Ones” in Austin
• October 6, 2023 — “Wild Ones” released as single
• 2023 — Wins CMA New Artist of the Year (American Songwriter)
• 2023–2024 — Unverified cancer rumor circulates on social media

The pattern: each milestone in Jelly Roll’s career happened in a compressed window — from prison to pardon to chart-topper within a decade.

Confirmed Facts vs. Unconfirmed Claims

Confirmed facts

• Jelly Roll’s real name is Jason DeFord (Songfacts)
• He was convicted of drug-related crimes and later pardoned (ABC7 Tennessee)
• “Wild Ones” was released October 6, 2023, on Columbia Records (Wikipedia)
• The song peaked at #35 on Billboard Hot 100 (Wikipedia)
• Jelly Roll admitted to past infidelity in his marriage (Taste of Country)
• He won CMA New Artist of the Year in 2023 (American Songwriter)

What’s unclear

• The terminal cancer rumor — not verified by any medical source (Snopes)
• Exact pardon date not publicly documented
• Nickname origin relies on Jelly Roll’s own account, no independent verification
• Exact timeline of his drug convictions remains imprecise

The balance: the confirmed facts outnumber the unclear claims, but the gaps around his health and legal details show how much of his story still relies on his own narration.

Key Quotes

I’ve always been attracted to crazy things or chaos. That’s where the song came from.Jessie Murph, to American Songwriter (via Billboard 2023)

I was selling drugs and I was doing things that I’m not proud of. I was a bad guy. But I’m not that guy anymore.Jelly Roll, to The Bobby Bones Show

The cheating thing was a hard conversation. But he’s a different man now.Bunnie XO, to Taste of Country

The takeaway: each of these sources — the artist herself, the pardoned singer, and the wife who stayed — tells the same story from a different angle. Chaos led them together; honesty kept them there.

For listeners who first heard Jelly Roll on “Wild Ones” and are now tracing his story backward, the arc is clear: a man who went from drug convictions to country radio, from infidelity to a repaired marriage, and from a grandmother’s joke name to a Billboard-charting collaboration with the next generation of female vocalists. The choice for Jelly Roll’s fanbase is whether the redemption is the point — or whether the music would be as good if he hadn’t lived the wreckage first.

Frequently asked questions

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