Jelly Roll Gives Struggling Youths a Second Chance With Juvenile Justice Campus in Nashville

Much of Jelly Roll’s appeal lies in his remarkable ability to overcome. The “Need a Favor” singer has largely put his rough past in the rearview to become country music’s hottest commodity. At the same time, no one could ever accuse Jelly of forgetting where he came from. Recently, the ACM Award winner helped break ground on a new facility that aims to serve as a beacon of hope for troubled teenagers.

Jelly Roll Hopes to See “Change” With New Facility

Jelly Roll spent his 14th, 15th and 16th birthdays at the Davidson County Juvenile Justice Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

“The only reason I wasn’t there at 17 was because I was charged as an adult,” said the 39-year-old hitmaker, who grew up in nearby Antioch.

[RELATED: Jelly Roll Confronts His Past in New Music Video for “Liar”]

Last Thursday (Aug. 8,) the “Son of a Sinner” singer attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Music City’s new Youth Campus for Empowerment. The 14-acre site will house the Davidson County Juvenile Court and a pre-trial housing for youth involved in the justice system. Additionally, the campus will include a 24-hour Assessment Center to support youth in crisis, along with other resources and agencies that can immediately assist families in need.

Jelly Roll had a show in Las Vegas the same night as the groundbreaking ceremony. However, he made time to stop by and give the project his blessing, calling it “well-spent money.”

“Get rid of stuff that makes you feel like a caged animal,” urged the GRAMMY nominee. “Make these kids feel loved and give them a chance in life. A lot of these kids are victims of their circumstances. This is a really great chance to change things.”

Jelly’s Cross-Genre Appeal

Although country music made him a household name, Jelly Roll has proven he can still find commercial success in multiple genres.

This week, his MGK collab “Lonely Road” debuted atop Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart. His song “Dead End Road,” from the Twisters soundtrack, sits at No. 6 on the same chart.

“Lonely Road” is also No. 2 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart. It’s the first of two Top 10 hits on the same charts, as “I Am Not Okay” ranks sixth.

Jelly also made an appearance on Falling In Reverse’s new single “All My Life,” which appeared this week on both the Alternative Digital Song Sales (No. 8) and Hard Rock Digital Song Sales charts (No. 2).

Featured image by William Volcov/Shutterstock