Is Jelly Roll Related to Waylon Jennings? The Truth Behind the Rumor

Publish date: 2024-03-13

Jelly Roll and Waylon Jennings are two names that have been linked together by some fans and curious observers. Jelly Roll is a multi-genre singer and songwriter who has been making waves in the music industry since the early 2010s. Waylon Jennings was a legendary country singer and songwriter who pioneered the outlaw movement in country music in the 1970s. But are they related by blood or by marriage? The answer is no, but there is an interesting connection between them that involves another musician.

Who is Jelly Roll?

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1986. He grew up in a rough environment and was exposed to drugs, violence, and crime at an early age. He started rapping when he was 15 and released his first mixtape in 2003. He collaborated with other rappers such as Lil Wyte, Haystak, and Tech N9ne, and gained popularity in the underground hip-hop scene. He also faced legal troubles and spent some time in prison for drug-related charges.

Jelly Roll’s style evolved over time, incorporating elements of country, rock, and soul music. He released several albums and mixtapes, such as The Big Sal Story, Sobriety Sucks, Addiction Kills, A Beautiful Disaster, and Self Medicated. He also worked with longtime friends and fellow musicians Struggle Jennings and Yelawolf on various projects. Some of his most popular songs include “Save Me”, “Creature”, “I Need You”, “Love the Heartless”, and “Black Roses”.

Who was Waylon Jennings?

Waylon Jennings was born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1937. He started playing guitar when he was eight and performed on local radio stations when he was 14. He dropped out of high school at 16 and pursued a career in music. He worked as a DJ and a performer in various clubs and radio stations in Texas and Arizona. In 1958, he met Buddy Holly, who became his mentor and friend. Holly arranged Jennings’ first recording session and hired him to play bass on his tour. Jennings gave up his seat on the plane that crashed and killed Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper in 1959.

Jennings formed his own band, The Waylors, and moved to Nashville in 1965. He signed with RCA Records but soon became frustrated with the creative control that the label had over his music. He fought for his artistic freedom and developed a distinctive sound that blended country, rock, blues, and folk influences. He also rebelled against the Nashville establishment and the polished image of mainstream country music. He grew his hair long, wore leather jackets and jeans, and sang about topics such as drugs, sex, violence, and social issues.

Jennings released several critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums, such as Lonesome, On’ry and Mean, Honky Tonk Heroes, Dreaming My Dreams, Are You Ready for the Country, Ol’ Waylon, I’ve Always Been Crazy, and What Goes Around Comes Around. He also collaborated with other artists such as Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter (his fourth wife), Tompall Glaser, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, David Allan Coe, Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard, George Jones, and many more. He was part of the country supergroup The Highwaymen with Nelson, Cash, and Kristofferson. Some of his most famous songs include “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”, “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)”, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”, “Good Hearted Woman”, “Amanda”, “I Ain’t Living Long Like This”, and “Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)”.

Jennings struggled with drug addiction for many years but managed to overcome it in the mid-1980s. He continued to record and perform until his health declined due to diabetes complications. He died in 2002 at the age of 64.

What is the connection between Jelly Roll and Waylon Jennings?

Although there is no direct relation between Jelly Roll and Waylon Jennings by blood or by marriage, there is one interesting connection between them: Struggle Jennings.

Struggle Jennings is a rapper and singer who is the grandson of Jessi Colter and the step-grandson of Waylon Jennings. His real name is William Harness Jr., and he is the son of Jennifer Eddy (Colter’s daughter from her first marriage to Duane Eddy) and Will Harness Sr., who was killed when Struggle was 10 years old.

Struggle grew up listening to his grandfather’s music and was inspired by his legacy. He also faced similar challenges as Jelly Roll did: he was involved in drugs, crime, and prison. He started rapping in 2006 and released his debut album I Am Struggle in 2013. He was arrested the same year for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and served five years in prison.

While in prison, he wrote songs and recorded them over the phone with the help of his producer and friend, Scatterbrain. He also collaborated with Jelly Roll, who was one of his closest friends and supporters. They released their first joint album, Waylon & Willie, in 2016, which was a tribute to their musical heroes and influences. They followed it up with three more albums: Waylon & Willie II in 2017, Waylon & Willie III in 2018, and Waylon & Willie IV in 2020.

Struggle also released solo albums such as Return of the Outlaw, The Widow’s Son, The Widows Son: Chapter II, Troubadour of Troubled Souls, and Angels & Outlaws. He also worked with other artists such as Yelawolf, Brianna Harness (his daughter), Adam Calhoun, Tommy Vext, Caitlynne Curtis, and Shooter Jennings (his uncle and Waylon’s son).

Struggle has said that he considers Jelly Roll as his brother and that they share a bond that goes beyond music. He has also said that he is proud of his grandfather’s legacy and that he hopes to honor it with his own music.

Conclusion

Jelly Roll and Waylon Jennings are not related by blood or by marriage, but they have a connection through Struggle Jennings, who is the step-grandson of Waylon and the friend and collaborator of Jelly Roll. They are all part of a musical family that spans across genres and generations. They have also overcome adversity and hardship to create music that resonates with many people. They are examples of how music can heal, inspire, and unite people from different backgrounds and walks of life.

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