Jelly Roll Reflects on His Journey from Parties to Morning Runs on His Birthday
Jelly Roll.
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Jelly Roll/Instagram
Jelly Roll Celebrates 41st Birthday with a Healthy New Tradition
On December 4, Jelly Roll, the country singer known for his candid approach to discussing personal struggles, marked his 41st birthday by embracing fitness rather than festivities steeped in substance abuse. Sharing a video on social media, Jelly Roll—whose real name is Jason DeFord—was seen running alongside bowhunter Cameron Hanes.
“It’s my 41st birthday, y’all. And I’m not saying that because I want birthday presents,” he stated in the video. “I’m saying that because I used to drink and do cocaine on my birthday. I used to do codeine and pills on my birthday.”
Now, Jelly Roll’s birthday routine has shifted dramatically. “One of my best friends wakes me up and says, ‘Let’s go for a f—ing run, baby.’ Me and Cam Hanes getting these miles in this morning,” he said excitedly. “That’s what God can do for you in a couple of years. If you didn’t enjoy your birthday this year, you can change it by next birthday, baby. I promise you can.”
In a subsequent post, Hanes highlighted their achievement, stating that the two were “crushing a 5K” together. Jelly Roll reiterated in Hanes’ video, “I used to do drugs on my birthday, y’all. I changed my friend group. Now I run.” Hanes responded, “He’s made me better, too. That’s what it’s all about. Get friends that lift you up, baby.”
Jelly Roll has been open about his past struggles with addiction, revealing that he was first arrested on drug charges at age 14. In a 2023 interview, he shared, “I’ve made a lot of peace with my past. I mean, it still haunts me like the ghosts I know, but I tell you what, I don’t think about doing no drugs today.”
Jelly Roll in November 2022, before his weight loss.
Sara Kauss/FilmMagic
Since prioritizing his health in 2022, Jelly Roll has lost nearly 200 pounds, dropping from a previous weight of 550 pounds. He credits a combination of diet and exercise for his transformation, which has included running. Earlier this year, he founded the "Losers Run Club" while preparing for his second 5K race.
In a 2024 discussion, he mentioned his aspiration to be featured on the cover of Men’s Health by March 2026, marking the first time he publicly shared that goal. Jelly Roll stated, "That’s my new goal. I wanna have one of the biggest transformations."
