>> Juju: NOW TO THE IMPROBABLE RISE OF JELLY ROLL. RISE OF JELLY ROLL. THE FORMER INMATE TURNED COUNTRY THE FORMER INMATE TURNED COUNTRY MUSIC SENSATION, HIS SOUL MUSIC SENSATION, HIS SOUL STIRRING LYRICS AND HARD KNOCKS STIRRING LYRICS AND HARD KNOCKS LIFE INSPIRING COUNTLESS FANS TO LIFE INSPIRING COUNTLESS FANS TO HOLD ON, SEEK HELP, AND BEGIN TO HOLD ON, SEEK HELP, AND BEGIN TO HEAL. HEAL. HERE'S NIGHTLINE'S SAWR AUSTIN. HERE'S NIGHTLINE'S SAWR AUSTIN. >> WHAT IS HAPPENING? >> WHAT IS HAPPENING? WHOSE SHOES AM I WEARING? WHOSE SHOES AM I WEARING? >> SO MUCH HISTORY IN THIS ROOM >> SO MUCH HISTORY IN THIS ROOM FOR ME. FOR ME. >> THERE'S NOT ANOTHER PLACE ON >> THERE'S NOT ANOTHER PLACE ON EARTH THAT WOULD BE MORE SPECIAL EARTH THAT WOULD BE MORE SPECIAL THAN PLAYING IN YOUR HOME TOWN THAN PLAYING IN YOUR HOME TOWN ARENA ARENA ♪ ♪ I'M A LONG HAIRED SON. I'M A LONG HAIRED SON. >> FOR THIS PROCLAIMED SON OF A >> FOR THIS PROCLAIMED SON OF A SINNER, JELLY ROLL, NONE OF THIS SINNER, JELLY ROLL, NONE OF THIS WAS EVER SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. WAS EVER SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IF YOU EVER WONDER WHY WE IF YOU EVER WONDER WHY WE ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> I'M SURPRISED I DON'T GET >> I'M SURPRISED I DON'T GET KILLED, TO BE HONEST. KILLED, TO BE HONEST. BUT EVEN DEEPER THAN MY OWN BUT EVEN DEEPER THAN MY OWN PERSONAL STRUGGLE WITH PERSONAL STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTIONS, I THOUGHT EVERYBODY ADDICTIONS, I THOUGHT EVERYBODY JUST KNEW TONS OF PEOPLE THAT JUST KNEW TONS OF PEOPLE THAT DIED OF OVERDOSES. DIED OF OVERDOSES. >> A KID FROM THE STREETS OF >> A KID FROM THE STREETS OF ANTIOCH TENNESSEE WITH A BIG ANTIOCH TENNESSEE WITH A BIG BUILD AND FACE TATS IS NOW THE BUILD AND FACE TATS IS NOW THE SECOND COMING OF COUNTRY MUSIC SECOND COMING OF COUNTRY MUSIC WITH HITS LIKE NEED A FAVOR. WITH HITS LIKE NEED A FAVOR. ♪ ♪ IF I ONLY TALK TO GOD WHEN I IF I ONLY TALK TO GOD WHEN I NEED A FAVOR NEED A FAVOR ♪ ♪ >> NOW TAKING THE COUNTRY MUSIC >> NOW TAKING THE COUNTRY MUSIC STAGE BY STORM AND LANDING ON STAGE BY STORM AND LANDING ON THE COVER OF BILLBOARD MAGAZINE. THE COVER OF BILLBOARD MAGAZINE. >> HOW MANY TIMES WERE YOU TOLD >> HOW MANY TIMES WERE YOU TOLD THIS SPACE ISN'T FOR YOU? THIS SPACE ISN'T FOR YOU? >> YOU KNOW, I WAS TOLD BY EVERY >> YOU KNOW, I WAS TOLD BY EVERY LABEL IN NASHVILLE THAT THIS LABEL IN NASHVILLE THAT THIS PLACE WASN'T FOR ME BUT I WANTED PLACE WASN'T FOR ME BUT I WANTED TO PLAY THE GRAND OLE OPRY I WAS TO PLAY THE GRAND OLE OPRY I WAS A NASHVILLE KID THAT GREW UP A NASHVILLE KID THAT GREW UP LOVING COUNTRY MUSIC. LOVING COUNTRY MUSIC. I WANTED TO MEET TIM McGRAW. I WANTED TO MEET TIM McGRAW. >> SOMEBODY SAVE ME >> SOMEBODY SAVE ME ♪ ♪ >> JELLY ROLL FOUND HIS VOICE >> JELLY ROLL FOUND HIS VOICE WHEN HE RELEASED SAVED ME WHEN HE RELEASED SAVED ME REACHING PLATFORM. REACHING PLATFORM. >> OVERNIGHT SUCCESS STORY, YOU >> OVERNIGHT SUCCESS STORY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CRAZY. KNOW, IT WAS CRAZY. >> BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SHY AWAY >> BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SHY AWAY FROM HIS STORY OF PAIN, PRISON FROM HIS STORY OF PAIN, PRISON AND ADDICTION, THAT AND ADDICTION, THAT VULNERABILITY STRIKING A I DEEP VULNERABILITY STRIKING A I DEEP CORD WITH HIS CORD WITH HIS ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC >> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC WE PUT IT ON YOUTUBE, WE NEVER WE PUT IT ON YOUTUBE, WE NEVER SPENT A DOLLAR WRITING AN AD. SPENT A DOLLAR WRITING AN AD. I JUST LOOKED UP AND IT WAS AT A I JUST LOOKED UP AND IT WAS AT A MILLION VIEWS, AND THEN FIVE MILLION VIEWS, AND THEN FIVE MILLION AND THEN 20 AND THEN WE MILLION AND THEN 20 AND THEN WE BROKE A HUNDRED. BROKE A HUNDRED. EVERY RECORD LABEL IN AMERICA EVERY RECORD LABEL IN AMERICA STARTED CALLING. STARTED CALLING. >> WHEN YOU REALIZE ALL THAT >> WHEN YOU REALIZE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, THAT KID FROM YOU'VE DONE, THAT KID FROM ANTIOCH WHO COULDN'T GET THE ANTIOCH WHO COULDN'T GET THE STUDIO TIME, RIGHT, IN NASHVILLE STUDIO TIME, RIGHT, IN NASHVILLE AND NOW HE'S SELLING OUT THE AND NOW HE'S SELLING OUT THE GRAND OLE OPRY AND BRIDGESTONE GRAND OLE OPRY AND BRIDGESTONE ARENA WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU ARENA WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU MAN. MAN. >> I STOP EVERY DAY AND TRY TO >> I STOP EVERY DAY AND TRY TO THINK ABOUT IT. THINK ABOUT IT. I COULDN'T EVEN HAVE TOLD MYSELF I COULDN'T EVEN HAVE TOLD MYSELF IN MY JUVENILE CELL THIS WOULD IN MY JUVENILE CELL THIS WOULD HAPPEN. HAPPEN. I COULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED. I COULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED. >> Reporter: WHAT WOULD >> Reporter: WHAT WOULD 15-YEAR-OLD YOU THINK MAN? 15-YEAR-OLD YOU THINK MAN? IF HE'S SEEING YOU RIGHT NOW. IF HE'S SEEING YOU RIGHT NOW. >> IT'S INSANE DUDE IT'S >> IT'S INSANE DUDE IT'S BECOMING A LAND SLIDE. BECOMING A LAND SLIDE. >> BIG TOURS BABY, BIG [BLEEP] >> BIG TOURS BABY, BIG [BLEEP] TOURS. TOURS. >> Reporter: FIR TOPPING RECORD >> Reporter: FIR TOPPING RECORD CHARTS AS AN EMERGING ARTIST CHARTS AS AN EMERGING ARTIST JELLY ROLL HAS RACKED UP THREE JELLY ROLL HAS RACKED UP THREE CMT AWARDS DEBUTING HIS COUNTRY CMT AWARDS DEBUTING HIS COUNTRY ALBUM HIS LIFE AT ITS RAWEST THE ALBUM HIS LIFE AT ITS RAWEST THE SUBJECT OF A NEW ABC STUDIOS SUBJECT OF A NEW ABC STUDIOS DOCUMENTARY. DOCUMENTARY. >> I'VE BEEN IN JAIL 40 TIMES IN >> I'VE BEEN IN JAIL 40 TIMES IN MY LIFE. MY LIFE. I NEVER MADE IT OUT OF THE NINTH I NEVER MADE IT OUT OF THE NINTH GRADE. GRADE. I'M REALLY A STREET KID THAT HAD I'M REALLY A STREET KID THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING GOING FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING GOING FOR HIM. HIM. >> YOU'RE AWESOME. >> YOU'RE AWESOME. >> Reporter: WHY DO YOU THINK >> Reporter: WHY DO YOU THINK YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO PEOPLE. YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO PEOPLE. >> I REPRESENT OVERCOMING. >> I REPRESENT OVERCOMING. I REPRESENT THE GUY THAT WASN'T I REPRESENT THE GUY THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT MAKING IT. SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT MAKING IT. AND THAT'S HOW WE ALL FEEL AND THAT'S HOW WE ALL FEEL SITTING AT HOME, RIGHT, THERE'S SITTING AT HOME, RIGHT, THERE'S A GLIMMER OF HOPE WHEN A GUY A GLIMMER OF HOPE WHEN A GUY LIKE ME MAKES IT THREW THREW THE LIKE ME MAKES IT THREW THREW THE CRACKS. CRACKS. WHEN I WAS THAT KID IN THAT WHEN I WAS THAT KID IN THAT JUVENILE CELL I THOUGHT THAT'S JUVENILE CELL I THOUGHT THAT'S ALL I WOULD BE, THAT INMATE FOR ALL I WOULD BE, THAT INMATE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THE REST OF MY LIFE. THAT'S WHAT I ASSUMED. THAT'S WHAT I ASSUMED. >> HIS SONGS COME FROM A REAL >> HIS SONGS COME FROM A REAL PLACE. PLACE. ♪ ♪ SEE THE SUNRISE IN HER EYES SEE THE SUNRISE IN HER EYES ♪ ♪ >> YES, NEW MUSIC, Y'ALL. >> YES, NEW MUSIC, Y'ALL. >> JELLY ROLL, WHO WAS BORN >> JELLY ROLL, WHO WAS BORN JASON DEFORT DRAWING ON HIS PAST JASON DEFORT DRAWING ON HIS PAST PAIN WITH HIS MOTHER AND PAIN WITH HIS MOTHER AND TROUBLED CHILDHOOD WITH A SONG TROUBLED CHILDHOOD WITH A SONG LIKE SHE, SONG ABOUT DRUG LIKE SHE, SONG ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION. ADDICTION. >> THE FIRST TIME MY AUNT HEARD >> THE FIRST TIME MY AUNT HEARD IT SHE TEXTED ME AND SAID, THIS IT SHE TEXTED ME AND SAID, THIS IS YOUR MOTHER. IS YOUR MOTHER. >> >> ♪ ♪ SEE THE SUNRISE IN YOUR EYES. SEE THE SUNRISE IN YOUR EYES. >> BEFORE THE COLD NOVEMBER RAIN >> BEFORE THE COLD NOVEMBER RAIN IF YOU EVER KNEW HER SMILE YOU IF YOU EVER KNEW HER SMILE YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW SHE'S IN PAIN WOULD NEVER KNOW SHE'S IN PAIN ♪ ♪ NEVER KNOW THAT SHE'S IN PAIN NEVER KNOW THAT SHE'S IN PAIN ♪ ♪ IT'S THESE MOMENTS THAT I'M IT'S THESE MOMENTS THAT I'M CAPTURING THAT I'M ENVISIONING CAPTURING THAT I'M ENVISIONING WATCHING THE LIFE LEAVE WATCHING THE LIFE LEAVE SOMEONE'S EYES. SOMEONE'S EYES. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I WOULD SEE THIS IN MY MOTHER I WOULD SEE THIS IN MY MOTHER WHEN SHE WOULD GET IN HER DARK WHEN SHE WOULD GET IN HER DARK PLACES PLACES >> Reporter: FOR JELLY ROLL >> Reporter: FOR JELLY ROLL SHARING HIS STRUGGLES PROVIDED SHARING HIS STRUGGLES PROVIDED AN OUTLET FOR HEARING AND THAT'S AN OUTLET FOR HEARING AND THAT'S WHY HE VISITS REHAB CENTERS FOR WHY HE VISITS REHAB CENTERS FOR THOSE FIGHTING ADDICTIONS. THOSE FIGHTING ADDICTIONS. >> HEY HOW ARE YOU? >> HEY HOW ARE YOU? SOBRIETY IS ALWAYS HARD BUT THIS SOBRIETY IS ALWAYS HARD BUT THIS IS THEERED THATEST PART. IS THEERED THATEST PART. HOW ARE Y'ALL? HOW ARE Y'ALL? >> HI. >> HI. >> HOW ARE Y'ALL. >> HOW ARE Y'ALL. >> FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ME >> FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ME MY NAME'S JELLY ROLE I'M A MY NAME'S JELLY ROLE I'M A MUSICIAN NOT A. MUSICIAN NOT A. >> MY CHILD' MOTHER WAS A >> MY CHILD' MOTHER WAS A RECOVERING HEROIN ADDICT, MY RECOVERING HEROIN ADDICT, MY MOTHER STRUGGLES WITH ADDICTION, MOTHER STRUGGLES WITH ADDICTION, A COUSIN THAT STRUGGLES WITH A COUSIN THAT STRUGGLES WITH ADDICTION. ADDICTION. I WAS SURROUNDED BY SO MUCH I WAS SURROUNDED BY SO MUCH ADDICTION IN MY LIFE. ADDICTION IN MY LIFE. >> Reporter: YOU CHOOSE TO GO TO >> Reporter: YOU CHOOSE TO GO TO THESE RECOVERY CENTERS AND THESE RECOVERY CENTERS AND CONTINUALLY GIVE BACK AND I'M CONTINUALLY GIVE BACK AND I'M CURIOUS WHY. CURIOUS WHY. >> IMAGINE GOD PUTS YOU IN A >> IMAGINE GOD PUTS YOU IN A SITUATION WHERE HE BRINGS YOU SITUATION WHERE HE BRINGS YOU THROUGH WHAT HE BROUGHT ME THROUGH WHAT HE BROUGHT ME THROUGH AND YOU HAVE A HEART TO THROUGH AND YOU HAVE A HEART TO DO ANYTHING BUT HELP PEOPLE THAT DO ANYTHING BUT HELP PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE SAME SITUATION YOU WERE IN THE SAME SITUATION YOU WERE IN. WERE IN. >> Reporter: WHO IS JELLY BEFORE >> Reporter: WHO IS JELLY BEFORE THE MUSIC. THE MUSIC. >> OH, DUDE, JELLY BEFORE THE >> OH, DUDE, JELLY BEFORE THE MUSIC WAS A SCUM BAG. MUSIC WAS A SCUM BAG. I WAS A HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HUMAN. I WAS A HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HUMAN. I WAS A LESS THAN DESIRABLE I WAS A LESS THAN DESIRABLE HUMAN, THAT'S WHY I HAVE A HEART HUMAN, THAT'S WHY I HAVE A HEART FOR SERVICE AND TO HELP PEOPLE FOR SERVICE AND TO HELP PEOPLE BECAUSE I WAS A TAKER FOR SO BECAUSE I WAS A TAKER FOR SO LONG THAT I WANTED TO BE A GIVER LONG THAT I WANTED TO BE A GIVER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. >> WHAT'S UP PA HOW ARE YOU. >> WHAT'S UP PA HOW ARE YOU. >> PAUL WOODEN JUNIOR WORKS >> PAUL WOODEN JUNIOR WORKS SECURITY GUARD AT THE WORLD SECURITY GUARD AT THE WORLD FAMOUS GRAND OLE OPRY IN FAMOUS GRAND OLE OPRY IN TENNESSEE AND WHEN JELLY ROLL TENNESSEE AND WHEN JELLY ROLL WAS INVITED TO PLAY THE NEW FACE WAS INVITED TO PLAY THE NEW FACE CAUGHT PAUL'S ATTENTION. CAUGHT PAUL'S ATTENTION. HE TOLD HIS WIFE DONNA WHO WAS HE TOLD HIS WIFE DONNA WHO WAS IN A RECOVERY HOME FOR DRUG IN A RECOVERY HOME FOR DRUG ADDICTION AT THE TIME. ADDICTION AT THE TIME. >> THEY PLAY HIS MUSIC ALL THE >> THEY PLAY HIS MUSIC ALL THE TIME, THEY DID A STORY OF HIS TIME, THEY DID A STORY OF HIS LIFE AND HIS ONE SONG HE HAS LIFE AND HIS ONE SONG HE HAS SAVE ME, IS A BIG SONG THEY SAVE ME, IS A BIG SONG THEY PLAYED, BUT THEY TOLD THE LIFE PLAYED, BUT THEY TOLD THE LIFE STORY OF HOW HE RECOVERED. STORY OF HOW HE RECOVERED. WHERE HE WALES AT ONE POINT AND WHERE HE WALES AT ONE POINT AND WHERE HE'S AT NOW. WHERE HE'S AT NOW. >> YOU MADE IT, YOU MADE IT BABY >> YOU MADE IT, YOU MADE IT BABY AND YOU MADE IT MORE AND YOU MADE IT MORE IMPORTANTLY. IMPORTANTLY. >> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU >> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU FOR A YEAR. FOR A YEAR. >> I KNOW, I KNOW. >> I KNOW, I KNOW. >> WE FINALLY GOT TO DO IT. >> WE FINALLY GOT TO DO IT. >> I KNOW. >> I KNOW. >> STOP IT. >> STOP IT. >> I GOT YOU, I GOT YOU. >> I GOT YOU, I GOT YOU. >> I WANT TO HEAR SAVE ME. >> I WANT TO HEAR SAVE ME. THAT'S WHAT SHE'S SAYING SAVE THAT'S WHAT SHE'S SAYING SAVE ME. ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD. >> THIS IS AWESOME. >> THIS IS AWESOME. >> I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO SPEAK >> I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNSPOKEN FOR. FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNSPOKEN FOR. I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A VOICE OF VOICELESS PEOPLE VOICE OF VOICELESS PEOPLE BECAUSE I WAS A VOICELESS BECAUSE I WAS A VOICELESS PERSON. PERSON. I'M WRITING SONGS ABOUT STUFF I I'M WRITING SONGS ABOUT STUFF I KNOW ABOUT AND I THINK THAT KNOW ABOUT AND I THINK THAT COMES ACROSS TO THE LISTENER. COMES ACROSS TO THE LISTENER. >> HE'S A SUPER STAR AND THE >> HE'S A SUPER STAR AND THE UNDERDOG. UNDERDOG. HIS STORY, ONE OF REDEMPTION AND HIS STORY, ONE OF REDEMPTION AND TRIUMPH. TRIUMPH. >> LET'S GO! >> LET'S GO! >> Reporter: JELLY ROLL IS A >> Reporter: JELLY ROLL IS A WALKING CONTRADICTION. WALKING CONTRADICTION. HE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE HERE HE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE HERE BUT HE IS AND HE'S TAKING OVER. BUT HE IS AND HE'S TAKING OVER. >> I COULDN'T HAVE DREAMED THIS. >> I COULDN'T HAVE DREAMED THIS. I REALIZE, AND THAT'S A MESSAGE I REALIZE, AND THAT'S A MESSAGE I HAVE TO KIDS, IS THAT NOT ONLY I HAVE TO KIDS, IS THAT NOT ONLY CAN YOU COME OUT OF YOUR CAN YOU COME OUT OF YOUR SITUATION AND DO BETTER. SITUATION AND DO BETTER. WHATEVER YOU'RE DREAMING OF WHATEVER YOU'RE DREAMING OF RIGHT NOW COULD BE TOO SMALL. RIGHT NOW COULD BE TOO SMALL. YOU MIGHT BE TOO SMALL. YOU MIGHT BE TOO SMALL. YOU'VE GOT TO DREAM BIG. YOU'VE GOT TO DREAM BIG. ♪