Jelly Roll Opens Up About His 'Crazy, Narcissistic, Selfish' Behavior

Jelly Roll's rise to fame hasn't been without its challenges, and he’s well aware that not everyone from his past may celebrate his success. Still, the 39-year-old country star is focused on making amends and reconciling with his troubled history.

Just recently, Jelly Roll reflected on his early years, a time marked by repeated run-ins with the law.

Between the ages of 14 and 24, he found himself in and out of jail nearly 40 times—a tumultuous decade that shaped both his life and his music.

“I’m rounding third on my amends list, and I think when I get there, I’ll feel a little better,” he told PEOPLE Magazine. “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.”

Jelly Roll acknowledges that discussing his past in interviews often requires him to “brush over 10, 12, 15 years of living an extremely crazy, narcissistic, selfish lifestyle” to fit it into a quick soundbite. However, he’s very aware that the reality of those years is far more complex.

“The truth is, there was a lot of pain in there. I hurt a lot of people,” he added. “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.”

He has been candid about feeling “embarrassed” by his actions during his younger years. In a recent podcast appearance, he admitted to having an inflated sense of “entitlement” at the time and expressed his hope to make amends with the victim of a robbery he committed in his past.

Since achieving success, Jelly Roll has made it his mission to give back. The Grammy-nominated artist has raised funds for various charities and regularly visits juvenile detention centers and jails to inspire and support those facing challenges similar to his own. Most recently, he donated pre-orders of his latest album, "Beautifully Broken," to four different charities, generating over $1 million in contributions.

“Philanthropy is the legacy I hope to leave with the music,” he told PEOPLE. “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.”

The"Need A Favor" singer has become a prominent advocate in the fight against the fentanyl epidemic, drawing inspiration from his own struggles with addiction and the profound impact the crisis has had on communities.

Motivated by personal experiences and the pain of losing loved ones to overdoses, the country star is deeply committed to raising awareness. As a father, he’s especially concerned about the dangers fentanyl poses to young people, fearing for his children’s safety in an era where drug experimentation is increasingly risky.

"My daughter will never experience the safety of experimenting with drugs... It's not safe for any kid to be doing anything," he shared in a different interview with PEOPLE.

Beyond pushing for legislative reform, Jelly Roll uses his platform to spotlight the dangers of fentanyl and the devastating effects of addiction. At his concerts, he frequently speaks about the crisis, sharing deeply personal stories and encouraging open conversations with his audience.

“We've seen crack. We've seen cocaine. We've seen opioids. But we've never seen something that is so deadly in such small amounts that's being mixed in so many different things,” he told PEOPLE.

Having battled addiction firsthand, Jelly Roll deeply understands the devastating toll drugs can take on individuals and their loved ones. By fostering dialogue, he aims to break the stigma surrounding addiction and promote understanding, believing these discussions are essential steps toward healing and prevention.