Nashville, Tennessee – September 15, 2025 – The country music world is in deep mourning as the famous singer Jelly Roll (real name Jason DeFord) announced the tragic passing of his beloved mother, Donna DeFord. In an emotional post on social network X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, the 41-year-old singer shared: “Lost my Mom this morning”, along with an old photo of Donna, bringing millions of fans around the world to tears. The post quickly went viral, receiving more than 5 million interactions in just a few hours, with thousands of comments expressing condolences from fellow artists such as Eminem, Morgan Wallen and Bunnie Xo – Jelly Roll’s wife.
Jelly Roll, who has been called “the voice of broken hearts,” has publicly expressed his deep gratitude for his mother. Born into a struggling family in Nashville, Jason DeFord had a tumultuous childhood, witnessing his parents’ divorce when he was 13. Donna, who nicknamed her son “Jelly Roll” because of his chubby appearance, was his biggest musical inspiration. “What got me into music was my mom,” he said on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2022. “She would play my favorite records and tell stories about how the songs were written.” Those memories have nurtured his career, from his debut mixtape Whiskey, Weed & Women (2013) to his 2023 album Ballads of the Broken, which featured hits like “Son of a Sinner” and “Save Me.”
Their mother-son relationship grew even stronger as Jelly Roll achieved great success. In October 2023, Donna proudly witnessed her son perform at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky – a night he described as “the best experience my mother has ever had at a show”. On Facebook, he wrote about the nights she worried about him because of his involvement with drugs and the law: “The police would knock on my mother’s door looking for me, and she would stay up all night worrying about the phone ringing with bad news”. Donna’s sudden passing this morning, according to a source close to her, was due to long-term health issues, leaving a huge void in the heart of the singer at the height of his career.
The reaction from the fan community and the entertainment industry was extremely strong. Many fans shared: “Jelly Roll sang about our pain, now he is going through that pain. Praying for him and his family”. His wife, Bunnie Xo, also posted a message of comfort: “We will get through this together, as always.” Artists like Lainey Wilson sent flowers and a message: “Your mother is an inspiration to us all.” The event comes just months after Jelly Roll appeared on Eminem’s The Death of Slim Shady album (July 2024), and he is preparing for a new tour later this year.
The loss is not only a personal pain, but also marks a new chapter in Jelly Roll’s journey – from former drug addict to symbol of hope. Fans hope he will turn his grief into healing music, as he did with “I Am Not Okay.” Our condolences to the DeFord family.
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