Jelly Roll Gets Candid on Those Unhappy Over His Success, Talks Seeking Forgiveness From Others and Himself

Besides releasing albums like Whitsitt Chapel and Beautifully Broken, most know Jelly Roll for his ability to completely change his life. At one time, the country singer found himself in trouble with the law and even in police custody. Not always making the right decision, he decided to change his life around. Thanks to his wife, Bunnie XO, Jelly Roll now sits on top of country music. But even with the massive success he created, the star revealed there are still some people who are mad at him. And according to the singer, it’s his fault. 

Not shying away from his past, Jelly Roll discussed his journey to forgiveness with People. Having spent a great deal of time in jail, he said, “The truth is, there was a lot of pain in there. I hurt a lot of people. No matter how much I’ve changed, they still watch and are mad that I’m successful. I understand that. But I’m doing better at letting go of the past and realizing that I don’t owe that part of me anything.”

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The Legacy Jelly Roll Wants To Leave Behind

While Jelly Roll understood the pain he caused people throughout his younger years, he looked to make it right. “I’m rounding third on my amends list, and I think when I get there, I’ll feel a little better. I was hitting some stone walls with people that wouldn’t forgive me and I was like, ‘God, maybe this has something to do with the fact [that] I haven’t forgiven myself either.”

Besides wanting to apologize for his mistakes in the past, Jelly Roll focused on the future as he continuously helped those in need and even helped raise over $1 million for charity.  “Philanthropy is the legacy I hope to leave with the music. The music will live on its own… I quit looking at myself as an entertainer. I realized we’re here to serve. That’s the thought when I write, when I perform, when we go feed the homeless, when we go talk to kids at juvenile [detention centers] or jail — we just want to be a good steward with what we got.”

(Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)