Jelly Roll Faces Challenges on Tour
During his music tour in Australia, Jelly Roll encountered a significant emotional struggle.
The country artist, whose real name is Jason Bradley Deford, shared that being far from his family was particularly difficult for him, especially at this stage of his life. He opened up during a recent episode of “No Filter with Kate Langbroch,” highlighting how long-distance travel impacted him more than he anticipated.
“I’m falling apart. It’s been a terrible week. I’m in the worst mental state I’ve been in for a while,” he expressed.
He continued, explaining, “I’m really far from home. I’m anxious. It’s shocking how far I am from my family… It’s really not enjoyable, and I just want to go home.”
Jelly Roll performed six shows in Australia between October 25th and November 4th, which marked his first performances in the country. However, he had to cancel his last show in Auckland, New Zealand, scheduled for November 8th, due to illness.
During the podcast, he mentioned that his health issues had negatively affected his mental well-being, particularly when combined with a demanding travel schedule. He described feeling “bloated” and noted that such discomfort can mess with your overall state. “When your stomach is off, everything else is too,” he said.
He also talked about how the challenges of traveling to Australia, particularly the absence of tour buses, added to his feelings of isolation.
“I have to be very isolated. It’s not something I enjoy,” he admitted. “I spend a lot of time alone in my hotel room, lost in my head. I really miss my family.”
To cope, he mentioned doing breathing exercises and “talking to himself” about his health, but he acknowledged that all he wanted was to be back in Tennessee.
“Everyone wants to go home when they’re unwell; it’s just natural,” he said. “I don’t feel good and just wish to go home.”
This challenging tour wasn’t the only source of frustration. Jelly Roll recounted an incident where he felt unfairly treated by a Louis Vuitton employee in Sydney, who appeared to treat him with suspicion while he was shopping. In a social media video, he described the experience, saying he felt like he was being seen as a potential criminal.
“Hey, Louis Vuitton in Sydney treated us like we were about to rob the place,” he stated in the video.
He expressed disbelief at being regarded in such a negative light: “I’ve never been looked at this suspiciously… The last time I was seen as a criminal, I was actually doing something wrong.”
Jelly Roll has been open about his past challenges, including legal troubles and battles with addiction. Reflecting on his past, he revealed that his first legal encounter occurred when he was a teenager, leading to serious charges and a year-long prison sentence, followed by several years of probation.
