Jelly Roll: Mulling Returning to Rock From Country for Next Album

Jelly Roll is one of the busiest and hottest music stars today. Our friend Meltdown interviewed him this week, and he discussed everything from his recent Hulu documentary to his dream collaborators.

I've never met or interviewed Jelly Roll before. But when the conversation started out talking about the "Beer Olympics," I knew this was going to be fun. We talked about the meteoric rise to success. He said while touring with Shinedown last year, he learned what it takes to go to the next level.

"Dude, I was a sponge," he said. "I stood side stage every night watching every set." He said he learned so much by watching singer Brent Smith throughout the tour.

Jelly Roll talked about his late blooming in the music industry. He's in his late 30s and just now breaking through to a mainstream audience. "I'm proof that it can happen," he said, discussing the chances of anyone succeeding at any age in this business. He spoke to his underdog story and how he's risen from wild and oftentimes troubled youth.

Jelly Roll was featured in a recent Hulu documentary, "Save Me." He told me he was very involved in the development of the film. "The first time I seen it, I cringed," he said. He spoke to the rawness of the project during our interview.

Jelly Roll also opened up about his plans for an upcoming album project. "I expect the next album to be more uplifting," he said. Jelly Roll said he's always writing. He noted that his next record could be a return to rock, the genre Jelly Roll started out in. "I think we're going to surprise some people with some of the collabs on this...it's going to be different."

Based on his comments, I wondered: is Jelly Roll "rock" or is he "country?" "I'm country rock, right?" he said.

He went on to talk more about crossing genres and about some of his rock influences. "I'll never forget where I was the first time I heard Bob Seger," he said, noting that his songwriting philosophy is "three chords and the truth."

I asked him what has surprised him the most from the last year as he has been on this massive career growth journey. He name-dropped a lot of music heavyweights who reached out to support him: Garth Brooks, David Draiman (Disturbed), Ronnie Radke (Falling in Reverse) and others.

Check out the full interview below.

Jelly Roll won three awards at this year's (4/2) CMT Music Awards. The one-time rapper recently scored his first country music chart-topper "Son of A Sinner." Born and raised in Antoich (right outside of Nashville), Jelly Roll has won the hearts of his fellow country stars and the heart of country music fans worldwide.

He made his first on the CMT Music Awards performance, joined by a full gospel choir, with his song "Need A Favor." That was followed by an enthusiastic standing ovation by the whole house.

Jelly Roll's awards came before his new album, Whitsitt Chapel, was released on June 2. Titled after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, the debut full-length Country project on BMG/Stoney Creek Records features 13 tracks.

Before his current time in country music, Jelly was known as a Southern Hip Hop artist. Beginning in 2010, he collaborated with Lil Wyte, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf, Tech N9ne, and Ryan Upchurch. His 2010 collaboration "Pop Another Pill" with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte reached over 6.3 million YouTube views and started his career.

A record label executive in Nashville told me they were looking for the Post Malone of country music and found that in Jelly. His real name is Jason DeFord, and his Jelly Roll nickname comes from his mother, who called him Jelly Roll when he was a young, as he said, a "chubby" kid.

As Jelly's star continues to rise, we take a look at his last few years in the national spotlight.