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A resolution recognizing Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord for his three CMT Music Award wins and his contributions to Antioch.
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WHEREAS, Jason DeFord, better known to many as Jelly Roll, is a rapper-turned-country singer who was raised in Antioch; and
WHERAS, Jelly Roll is a long-time Nashvillian, playing his first show in Nashville at the Playing Field on Antioch Pike and has since headlined the Bridgestone Arena; and
WHEREAS, Jelly Roll’s story is an inspiration to many. As a teenager, he was involved in crimes like drug dealing and armed robbery. He spent ages 14 through 25 in and out of incarceration; and
WHEREAS, while incarcerated, Jelly Roll’s daughter was born and it helped him turn his life around. He earned his GED while in prison and began focusing on his music; and
WHEREAS, after his release, he began making rap music his career and independently released albums, posted music to YouTube, and began performing anywhere he could; and
WHEREAS, he first appeared on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 2011. Over the next five years, he began to gain a following and released more albums. While he would occasionally sing, he would rarely do so for an entire track; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, Jelly Roll released an independent album which included some of the first songs he sang with no rapping; and
WHEREAS, he made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry on November 9, 2021; and
WHEREAS, in January 2023, Jelly Roll’s debut country single "Son of a Sinner" hit number one on Country radio and spent a record-setting 28 weeks at number one on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart; and
WHEREAS, Jelly Roll was nominated for three CMT Music Awards, which were held at Moody Center in Austin, TX on April 2, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Jelly Roll won all three awards: “Male Video of the Year,” “Breakthrough Artist,” and “CMT Digital - First Performance of the Year”; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper for the Metropolitan Council to recognize Jelly Roll for his three CMT Music Award wins as well as his contributions to Antioch.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as recognizing Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord on his three CMT Music Award wings for “Male Video of the Year,” “Breakthrough Artist,” and “CMT Digital - First Performance of the Year” and further recognize him for his many contributions to the Antioch and Nashville communities.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.