Jason Deford, also known as Jelly Roll, is a popular country music artist, who is now seeking a pardon for crimes he committed in his teenage years, including robbery and drug charges.

On Tuesday, the Tennessee Board of Parole unanimously voted to endorse his pardon. Under Tennessee law, it is now up to Governor Bill Lee to decide whether or not to officially pardon Jelly Roll.

This process began about a year ago and Jelly Roll stated that “[He] could not be happier that it has gotten this far.”

Jelly Roll has become a massive advocate for kids in troubled communities, and imprisoned people. He says that he relates to them on a personal level and hopes to inspire them and give them hope for the future. 

He recently won an Advocacy award from the World Literacy Foundation at Oxford because of his work speaking at schools, prisons, and rehabilitation centers. Deford speaks out about drug abuse and crime, warning them about the dangers of getting involved in illegal behaviors.

Jelly Roll stated that he was in jail from ages 14-25 because of criminal charges, and that it was truly the lowest point in his life. When he was in jail one day, a guard told him that he had a daughter who had just been born, and at that point he decided to turn his life around. Today, Jelly Roll is one of the largest advocates for people in high risk communities, as he continues to inspire and motivate generations to make a change.

Jelly Roll hopes that having a clean criminal record will not only allow him to do things like vote, but also send a message that it’s never too late to change.