Jelly Roll Drops Nearly 200 Pounds and He’s Just Getting Started

Jelly Roll, Bunnie XO - (Photo Courtesy of ACM Awards)

When Jelly Roll stepped on stage in Pittsburgh for Pat McAfee’s Big Night Aht on April 9, 2025, the crowd wasn’t just cheering for the music. They were witnessing a man in the middle of a transformation that goes beyond image or industry.

“I started at 540 pounds,” Jelly Roll said, beaming. “This morning, I was 357.”

Let that sink in: nearly 200 pounds lost in two years — while headlining shows, dropping chart-topping songs, and becoming one of the most recognizable faces in modern music.

But for Jelly, this isn’t about vanity or fame.

“I’m gonna lose another 100 pounds,” he told the crowd, “and go skydiving with my wife in Sweden, baby!”

A Star Who Keeps It Real

Jason DeFord — the man behind the name — has never hidden his demons. From addiction and jail time to mental health struggles, he’s built a fan base on honesty and pain turned into purpose. His journey isn’t polished — it’s raw, unfiltered, and evolving in real time.

Fans first noticed his shift back in December 2022, when he went public with his new fitness regimen. But this wasn’t about dropping quick pounds. It was about changing his life.

Training for More Than Music

By 2024, Jelly Roll was no longer just walking off calories — he was training to run races. He completed his first 5K, and this May, he’s going for round two. On Instagram, he let fans in on the sweat and struggle of it all, proving that change is possible even under a spotlight.

He dubbed it the “Losers Run Club” — a community for people who felt left out of the fitness world and needed a real one to root for.

“This ain’t about six-packs,” he wrote. “It’s about staying alive.”

Before & After: A Picture of Change

Side-by-side images don’t lie. In 2022, Jelly Roll was performing with a visible burden on his body. In 2025, he’s bounding across stages and training in full stride. The weight loss is staggering, but it’s the light in his eyes that hits harder.

What’s Next? Skydiving… and Beyond...Jelly Roll’s next goal is sky-high.....Literally! He plans to drop another 100 pounds and celebrate by skydiving in Sweden with his wife, Bunnie.

“I’ve never felt this alive,” he said. “And I’ve never been more excited about what’s next.”

In a world that often defines success by looks or numbers, Jelly Roll is reminding everyone that health is the real headline. He’s not just transforming his body — he’s transforming his life, on his own terms.

And his story? It’s still being written — one mile, one meal, one moment at a time.

Want to join Jelly Roll on his journey? Check out the Losers Run Club on Facebook.