Not long ago, country music star Jelly Roll couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without getting tired. But in February 2025, he reached the top of Camelback Mountain in Arizona—sweaty, smiling, and 140 pounds lighter. It was a huge moment for the singer, whose real name is Jason DeFord, and a sign of how far he’s come in his personal journey.
Jelly Roll is known for his honest songs and rough past, but now he’s gaining attention for something else—his incredible transformation. He used to weigh 550 pounds. Today, he’s healthier, more active, and wearing smaller clothes. And he did it without surgery or trendy diets. Instead, he focused on real effort, staying strong in his mind, and finding deep reasons to keep going.
Changing for Good
For many years, Jelly Roll used food to cope with pain, stress, and addiction. He has shared in interviews that eating made him feel better during tough times. But it also led to serious health problems. By 2022, he realized he needed to make a change—not for fame, but for his family and his future.
He started small. He began walking every day and worked with a nutrition coach, Ian Larios. He stopped eating processed foods and focused on simple, healthy meals. “No crazy diet,” he told fans. “Just better choices and more movement.”
By the end of 2024, he had lost 100 pounds. But he didn’t stop. He kept walking, added weight training, and pushed himself to keep improving. In February 2025, he climbed Camelback Mountain—a big goal he once thought was impossible. At the top, he shared a video, saying, “That hike was for me. To prove I could do hard things again.”
What Helped Him Succeed
Jelly Roll didn’t follow a secret plan. His success came from hard work, patience, and support from loved ones. He also spoke openly about his struggles with food, even during his concerts. His wife, Bunnie XO, stood by him every step of the way. “She’s been my rock,” he said. “When I wanted to give up, she pushed me forward.”
His coach focused on building habits Jelly Roll could stick to, like meal prepping, drinking water instead of soda, and finding time to exercise—even while on tour. At first, his workouts were short walks around the neighborhood. Over time, those walks turned into jogs, hikes, and gym sessions.
“The more I moved, the better I felt,” he said. “Once I started seeing results, I didn’t want to stop.”
Looking Ahead
Now, with 140 pounds lost and a new lifestyle, Jelly Roll says he’s not done yet. At a recent show, he told fans, “I want to be on the cover of Men’s Health by next year. That’s not a joke—I’m going for it.”
He’s also interested in doing fitness challenges and running 5K races—not for attention, but to keep proving to himself that he’s growing and improving. “This is the best I’ve felt in my adult life,” he said. “And I want more of it.”
Jelly Roll’s story is about more than losing weight. It’s about taking back control of his life. And if his climb to the top of a mountain is any sign, he’s only just getting started.
