Are Jelly Roll and Willie Nelson related?
Introduction
Are Jelly Roll and Willie Nelson related? This is a question that has piqued the curiosity of many music enthusiasts.
Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, is a well-known rapper from Nashville, Tennessee, who has gained recognition for his raw, honest lyrics and unique blend of country and hip-hop.
On the other hand, Willie Nelson, an iconic figure in country music, has been serenading audiences with his soulful voice and poignant storytelling for decades. But are these two musicians connected by blood or just by their shared love for music?
Let’s delve into their backgrounds to uncover the truth.
Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll has become well known for his career as a rapper and his collaborations with other famous musicians such as Tech N9ne, Struggle Jennings, and Ryan Upchurch, just to name a few. Jelly Roll is married to Bunnie Xo.
Born Jason DeFord, Jelly Roll grew up in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee.
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He had a troubling time growing up as a teenager. He said he found himself in a juvenile detention center when he was only 15 years old.
Jason was then charged as an adult for a crime he committed when he was only a child.
He has also stated, “Imagine carrying your best friend’s casket because of gun violence and watching your father take his last breath the same year.” He later says, “Wow, thank God dreams come true. If someone ever told you that you CAN’T do something, just know that you CAN!”
After his troubled youth, he began his music career in 2010 when he collaborated with fellow Tennesse rapper Lil Wyte.
His collaboration with Lil Wyte garnered over 6 million views on YouTube and effectively launched Jason’s career.
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The success of his collaboration with Lil Wyte gave him the chance to release a studio album named Year Round, which was released under the Hypnotize Minds record label in April 2011.
DeFord is known for collaborating with other rappers and musicians from Tennessee, including DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Haystak, among others.
He was involved with some controversy when his mixtape released in 2013 was released with the name Whiskey, Weed, & Waffle House.
However, the Waffle House restaurant chain did not want their namesake and brand to be associated with DeFord and his music, so they threatened Jason and his producers with legal action for using their trade name and logo.
His music has become popular among the Tennessee music scene.
He was particularly recognized for his album with fellow “Nashville outlaw” Struggle Jennings, who is the grandson of country music legend Waylon Jennings.
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The album, named “Waylon & Willie,” was named to honor the legacy of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.
Willie Nelson
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Willie Nelson was born on April 29, 1933. He was raised by his grandparents and started his music career at a young age.
He wrote his first song at 7, joined his first band at 10, and toured with a local band in high school.
He joined the U.S. Air Force but was discharged because of back problems.
He started college at Baylor University but dropped out because he was succeeding in music.
Nelson was one of the main figures of outlaw country in the 1960s and 70s.
The success of the album Shotgun Willie (1973) and the songs Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978) made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music.
In 1985, Nelson helped organize the first Farm Aid concert to benefit American farmers.
The concerts have been held every year since, and he goes to every event.
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In 2011, Nelson was inducted into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame.
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998, won the Gershwin Prize, and the lifetime award of the Library of Congress in 2015.
He’s also included on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers and 100 Greatest Guitarists lists.
Nelson has been in more than 30 movies, with his first appearance in the 1979 film The Electric Horseman.
He is the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), which is in favor of marijuana legalization.
Nelson is also the honorary chairman of the advisory board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas.
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Is Jelly Roll related to Willie Nelson?
So, are Jelly Roll and Willie Nelson related? Although DeFord is closely associated with Struggle Jennings and named his hit album “Waylon & Willie,” Jelly Roll shares no relation to Willie Nelson. Jelly Roll and Willie Nelson are not related. And, definitely, Jelly Roll is not Willie Nelson’s grandson.
Although Jelly Roll is not related to anyone famous, he is married to Bunnie DeFord, aka Bunnie XO.
“Waylon & Willie” was also the name of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings’ album in 1978, which is why Jelly Roll and Struggle Jennings decided to name their album to pay homage to the classic music from the 1970s.
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