The Surprising Age Jelly Roll First Attended an AA Meeting

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Jason Bradley DeFord, more popularly known as Jelly Roll, is no stranger to being honest about his past experiences with drugs and alcohol, but fans were left stunned after learning how old – or young – the singer was the first time he attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

On the Thursday, October 10, episode of The Highway show hosted by Ania Hammar on SiriusXM, Jelly Roll, 39, admitted that he was only a young teen when he experienced an AA meeting for the first time.

“Oh goodness, I don’t fully remember my first real meeting ’cause I was court-ordered at like 14,” said Jelly Roll. “But I definitely remember the first time that I found solace in those rooms, or the first time that I kind of got introduced to the concept of this, and how much stuff I’ve taken from them rooms,” he added.

The rapper also touched on how the meetings are still a constant in his life, telling the host that he still attends saying, “It was really hard for me to get away from those drugs. Something I do [for] maintaining my relationship with those drugs is I will still attend the meetings, even though I’m not a textbook sober guy — but I never share, I just quietly sit and appreciate the message and the meaning.”

Later in that same interview the Tennessee native encouraged listeners and fans to attend meetings themselves, “I think everybody should experience one [even] if you’ve never drank in your life.” he says. “I still think that there is something from it that is, you know, the good ones are like good theater. They’ll make you listen, you’ll learn, you’ll laugh and you’ll cry,” he added.

According to a previous interview with The New York Times, the recording artist revealed that some songs in his catalog including “I Am Not Okay,” and “Winning Streak” from his latest album, Beautifully Broken, are directly inspired by the things he experience in the AA and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings.

Jelly Roll has opened up about his struggles with abusing alcohol and cocaine in a December 2023 interview with People, adding that he has since cut out drugs and will only drink for special occasions.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline