Jelly Roll’s Journey Comes Full Circle With a Global Literacy Award

Jelly Roll has come a long way since his difficult youth, and April 8th, 2025, was another example of how successful he has become. As Country Town reported, the World Literacy Summit honored the “Need a Favor” singer with a Global Literacy Award at this year’s presentation in the U.K.

He received this award in honor of his ongoing advocacy for improved literacy and education, especially for young people in the criminal justice system. The performer, whose real name is Jason DeFord, was himself a juvenile offender and, as Billboard reported, earned his GED at 24 years old while serving a prison sentence.

The Singer Also Served as a Keynote Speaker for the Event

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In addition to receiving his award, Jelly Roll served as a keynote speaker at the summit. According to the program posted on the World Literacy Summit website, he spoke as part of a presentation called “The Journey of a little boy from broken to Beautifully Broken,” a title which pays homage to the singer’s 2024 album.

He shared the stage with Sheriff Christopher Swanson, a Michigan-based law enforcement officer who has worked to improve local inmates’ math and reading skills. Before the event, Swanson took to Facebook to express his gratitude for being included in the event and to praise his co-speaker, saying: “His story has truly illustrated that you can break away, and you can start a new path and inspire others.”

Jelly Roll has Repeatedly Offered to Support Fans In Their Education Goals

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For Jelly Roll, advocating for education and literacy isn’t just reserved for special functions like the World Literacy Summit; the singer has also offered individual support to fans at several concerts. In a November 2024 video posted to Facebook, the singer addressed a fan by saying, “We’re going to change your life right here.” According to the post, Jelly Roll spotted the fan in a Nashville, Tennessee, concert audience, holding up a sign asking for help to pay her tuition, which the singer agreed to do.

In a March 2025 CTV News YouTube video, the singer made a similar promise to two college students in Manitoba, Canada students, saying to them: “I tell you what, you don’t get student loans no more girls we’re going to pay them off for y’all.” Later in the video, one of the students commented on the singer’s promise: “I woke up this morning and thought it was a dream.” According to CTV News, Jelly Roll’s contribution to these students’ education amounted to “tens of thousands of dollars.”