After years of hard work and dedication, Jelly Roll finally found the success he had been seeking. Outside of his talent as a singer and songwriter, one thing contributed to his rise to prominence: change. On the surface, he transitioned from rap to country, making his genre debut in 2023 with Whitsitt Chapel. It goes deeper than that, though. He has fundamentally changed his life over the last few years. One of his most recent achievements shows just how different his life is today. He has officially gone from drug dealer to (honorary) deputy.
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Earlier this week, Jelly Roll was in Little Rock, Arkansas for a show at the Simmons Bank Arena. Before rocking the stage, he and Bunnie Xo stopped by the Pulaski County Detention Center to inspire a group of inmates. The “Save Me” singer spoke to the group about changing their lives, sang a couple of songs, and hoped to inspire them. That same day, he did something he likely never thought he would do. He took the oath to become a Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputy. While the title is honorary, it is still almost unbelievable for those who know Jelly’s past,
Jelly Roll Becomes an Honorary Deputy
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office posted about Jelly Roll’s visit on its Instagram page. The video showed glimpses of his time talking to the inmates and posing with staff. It ended with a still of him posing beside Sheriff Higgins and holding his new badge.
After thanking Jelly Roll and Bunnie for coming to the detention center to speak with inmates in their CSI reentry program, they shared the news about Deputy Roll. “We’re also thrilled to announce that he took the Oath of Office to be an honorary deputy!” the post read.
Making a Positive Impact
The CSI (Community-focused, Safety-driven, Integrity-based) Reentry program helps give inmates the tools they need to turn their lives around. According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office website, the program offers life skills classes, job training, and recovery programs to help inmates get a head start on finding employment, staying sober, and most importantly staying out of jail.
So, the inmates that Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo spoke to are on their way to being free. More importantly, they are driven to change their lives. In short, they were the perfect audience for his encouraging words and inspirational story.
Featured Image by Steve Ferdman/UPI/Shutterstock
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