Jelly Roll, the country star and Grammy nominee, recently unveiled a striking new appearance, shedding his signature beard after a dramatic transformation following a significant weight loss journey. The 40-year-old singer, born Jason DeFord, shared a video on Instagram showcasing his clean-shaven face, stating, "By now, you've probably noticed that I resemble a ninja turtle—one of the reasons I started growing a beard was to cover up my obesity."
Jelly Roll's journey to a new look began in December 2022, when he embarked on a weight loss journey that saw him shed over 200 pounds by April 2025. During an appearance on Pat McAfee’s Big Night AHT, he shared that his weight had dropped from 540 pounds to 357 pounds. He added, "I want to lose another 100 pounds so I can go skydiving with my wife, Bunnie XO."
The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards saw Jelly Roll explain the hardest part of losing weight as managing food, stating, "If you're really battling obesity, you have to start at the dinner table...you have to fight that addiction at the dinner table."
His beard-free reveal coincides with the announcement of the 2026 Grammy Award nominations, where he received three nominations, including Best Contemporary Country Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance. In his Instagram video, Jelly Roll became emotional, saying, "When I made it to my first Grammy of the year...I thought to myself this is the only time I'll ever be at the Grammys, and to be coming back three years later with more nominations than I've ever had is just...first of all, gratitude."
He added with tears in his eyes, "There's not an artist in the world that didn't grow up watching the Grammys...and rehearse their speech." He concluded, "Win, lose or draw, dude, holy f**k we won."
