Tennessee Governor Pardons Singer Jelly Roll for Past Crimes

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted a pardon on Thursday to country music star Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, for convictions stemming from a robbery and drug possession more than a decade ago. The 41-year-old Nashville native, known for blending rap and country in hits like "Son of a Sinner," received the clemency at the governor's residence in Oak Hill, where he met Lee for the first time and embraced him in front of a decorated Christmas tree.

The pardon addresses DeFord's criminal record, which includes a 2002 robbery conviction when he was 17. Court records show he and two accomplices, armed during the incident, stole $350 from a home with the assistance of an acquaintance. DeFord served one year in prison followed by probation. In 2008, authorities found marijuana and crack cocaine in his vehicle, leading to eight years of court-ordered supervision. He also has misdemeanor convictions for driving without a license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lee's decision followed a months-long review process that began last October, five years after DeFord completed his final sentence. The Tennessee Board of Parole held a nearly two-hour hearing on April 23 in...