where did jelly roll grow up

Jelly Roll Grew Up in Antioch Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, spent his formative years in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. This working-class suburb shaped his early life amid challenges like family struggles and limited opportunities.

Early Life Details

Born on December 4, 1984, in Nashville, he was raised specifically in Antioch, a rural area just outside the city's core. His father, Horace "Buddy" DeFord, worked in the meatpacking industry and moonlighted as a bookie, while his mother faced mental health and addiction issues. The nickname "Jelly Roll" stuck from childhood, thanks to his love for doughnuts.

Family and Environment

• Grew up with three older half-siblings: brothers Roger and Scott, plus sister Shelby.
• Lived in a modest family setting in Antioch, where his parents influenced his early music interests despite hardships.
• The neighborhood's tough vibe, common in '90s Nashville outskirts, fueled his raw storytelling in rap and later country music.

Antioch's proximity to Music City exposed him to hip-hop first, before he pivoted to country stardom. Fans often highlight this gritty backdrop in forum chats, tying it to his redemption arc.

Trending Context

As of early 2026, discussions on Jelly Roll's roots pop up in celebrity bios and music news, especially with his ongoing Grammy buzz and weight loss journey. No major updates shift the Antioch origin story—it's a cornerstone of his bio across Wikipedia, Biography.com, and People.

"Jelly Roll grew up in the small rural town of Antioch in Tennessee."

TL;DR: Jelly Roll grew up in Nashville's Antioch neighborhood, a key part of his authentic, hard-knocks persona.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.