Jelly Roll Reflects On Dramatic Weight Loss And Its Impact On Fatherhood

Rapper and singer Jason Bradley DeFord, more famously known as Jelly Roll, has made leaps and bounds in his weight loss journey. The father of two is reflecting on the drastic change, sharing how losing weight has impacted his quality of life, as well as how it changed his parenting style.

On the premiere of Netflix's "Star Search," Jelly Roll talked to Extra, sharing how incredible he feels after the reporter commented on how amazing he looked.

The rapper further explained that the change wasn't only physical, it was spiritual as well. "I've gotten closer to God. I've gotten closer to myself. I'm a better father," he explained, adding that he had started coaching his son's basketball team, an activity that he couldn't do before.

"Dude, when you're 550 lbs, you wonder if they have a seat big enough for you, you know what I mean? You definitely don't think about trying to coach a team," he explained, adding that he feels like "a whole different human."

Jelly Roll has been candid about his weight loss efforts over the years, and he touched on the topic in December 2025 on Joe Rogan's podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience." He explained the catalyst for the weight loss efforts, citing that on his 39th birthday, he felt himself dying. "It felt like I'd already cheated the game," explaining that he suffered from heart issues.

It was a wake-up call for the 41-year-old, who said that the realization pushed him to make drastic lifestyle changes to be healthier, not only for himself, but for his family. Now, Jelly Roll has lost about half his original weight, weighing around 265 lbs. after shedding 275 lbs. As he told Rogan, he's had to change his wedding ring five times due to his weight loss over the past few years.

The Grammy-nominated singer weighed 540 lbs. at his heaviest, and it was because of his love of food. He was aware that he overate a lot, and tackling the issue was the first step he took in his journey.

In an interview with Men's Health, Jelly Roll extensively talked about the process, saying that he first prepared himself mentally by going to therapy for his food addiction. "Once I started treating food like an addiction, it started changing everything for me. When I started really looking at the source of why I was eating. What was I eating for?" he said.

Next, he set his goal, which was to be healthy. He figured that if he was healthy, he could lose weight. With activities like boxing, strength training, and walking, coupled with a high-protein diet and determination, he was able to fulfill his goal.

Jelly Roll also opened up about the struggles he faced while being obese, sharing that he felt a lot of anger and sadness. "I was a prisoner to my own body. Dude, wiping my a-s was a problem. Washing myself properly was a problem. Getting in cars. Every decision I made in life had to be based on my weight," he explained.

Moreover, he struggled to be intimate with his wife, Bunnie Xo, whom he described as a "smoke show," due to his low testosterone level, which is associated with his obesity. His bloodwork also showed high levels of sugar and cholesterol.

One option for Jelly Roll was to take weight-loss medication to aid the process, and while he did try it, he ultimately decided to stop after two weeks and lose weight on his own. "I want to show people that this is possible," he explained.

Jelly Roll has always said that one of his motivations for being healthier was his family, especially his children, Bailee Ann and Noah Buddy. He has a close relationship with both his children, bringing them to shows and spending time with them whenever he can. However, another motivating factor is to eventually expand the family.

In her podcast "Dumb Blonde," Bunnie Xo shared that she and her husband are trying to get pregnant, but it's ultimately "in God's hands." If it doesn't work out, however, the podcast host said that they are open to adoption.