KEY POINTS
- The singer has gone from 540 pounds to 357 pounds since restarting his health journey in 2022.
- He joked that he planned to lose another 100 pounds and skydive with his wife Bunnie XO in Sweden.
- Fans flooded social media with praise, calling her journey ‘inspiring’
Country star Jelly Roll left fans stunned as he touched down in Sydney on Tuesday, revealing a stunning 200-pound weight loss ahead of his first tour of Australia.
The 40-year-old singer, born Jason DeFord, looked almost unrecognizable as he strolled through the airport in a black hoodie, matching sweatpants and a Tennessee Titans cap, flashing a smile and greeting fans with his trademark warmth.
Gone is the burly frame that once made headlines. In his place was a noticeably slimmer and lighter version of the artist, whose transformation sparked a wave of reactions online.
“He’s not Jelly Roll anymore. He’s Limp Biscuit! “” one fan joked on social media, summarizing the disbelief shared by thousands.
But this makeover goes way beyond just looks. For longtime followers, Jelly Roll’s sea change is the culmination of a decade-long journey marked by battles with addiction, hard-earned discipline, and an unwavering commitment to reinventing oneself.
“I’m going to lose another 100 pounds and go skydiving!” »
In April 2024, the Save me the singer told the crowd at the Pittsburgh Great evening Aht show that he has gone from 540 pounds to 357 pounds since restarting his health program in late 2022.
“I’m going to lose another 100 pounds and go skydiving with my wife in Sweden, baby!” » he announced on stage to thunderous applause.
In September 2025, he celebrated with humor on Instagram, posting a photo captioned: “I can now adapt to Louis Vuitton. Pray for my bank account.
Instagram @jellyroll615
Fighting for your life – again
This isn’t the first time Jelly Roll has gained weight. He first spoke about his health struggles in 2018, revealing that he weighed over 500 pounds in 2015.
“All I’ve ever known is fat, and I’m fucking miserable,” he wrote in a candid Instagram post. “I want to go skydiving, bungee jumping, bull riding, parasailing, riding a roller coaster – I want to LIVE a normal life and have a normal relationship with food.”
This message marked a turning point. By 2016, he had already lost nearly 200 pounds, telling his fans that he had begun “fighting to save his own life.” But, as he later admitted, maintaining his weight proved even more difficult than losing it.
Break old habits
On his wife Bunnie
“No one in my house has ever had a healthy relationship with food,” he said. “That was the hardest part: really fighting that demon in the beginning and getting into that discipline and that commitment. But once that little snowball started rolling, it was on its way.
Talk to People magazine later that year, he said he had had to completely rethink his thinking: “I’ve had to change the way I look at food over the last 39 years.”
Set new goals
Jelly Roll’s motivation now extends far beyond designer clothing. During his Stupid Blonde appearance, he revealed an ambitious new goal:
‘I want to be on the cover of Men’s health by March 2026. This is my new goal. I want to experience one of the greatest transformations.
For an artist who has spent years documenting his struggles through songs like Son of a sinner And Need a favorhis weight loss feels like a physical counterpart to the redemption arc he’s already sung about.
Fans celebrate ‘brand new role’
Sydney’s photos sparked a flood of praise online. A user wrote: “From Jelly Roll to Fit Roll: what inspiration! »
Another added, “He is proof that change doesn’t care about age. Keep rolling, bro.
While the singer still aims to lose another 100 pounds, his story has already resonated with thousands of people who see in him the same perseverance that fuels his lyrics.
More than a metamorphosis
Jelly Roll’s weight loss is part of a larger personal reinvention. Overcoming food addiction, exercising and maintaining mental health became cornerstones of his message.
“It’s about saving my own life,” he told fans during a show in 2023. “I just want to keep living, keep dreaming and keep riding.”
Like his Downward facing continues, the man once defined by his size is now defined by his will: a living example that transformation is never out of reach.
