Jelly Roll, the renowned country music singer, is a proud and devoted father to his two kids, Bailee Ann and Noah. Despite being a public figure, Jelly Roll has managed to keep his personal life, including his children, relatively private.
However, through various interviews and social media posts, we’ve been able to catch glimpses of his children’s lives and their relationships with their father.
The Birth of Bailee Ann and Its Impact on Jelly Roll’s Life
Bailee Ann, Jelly Roll’s 15-year-old daughter, was born on May 22, 2008, while her father was incarcerated. This life-changing event had a profound impact on Jelly Roll, who has often spoken about how it motivated him to turn his life around.
In an interview with 105.7 The Point, Jelly Roll shared, “I could no longer be selfish. There was something that was solely relying on me. I knew that that was an important task. So I wanted to take it seriously. And I did. I take it very seriously to this day.”
Bailee Ann: The Teenager with a Passion for Songwriting
Today, Bailee Ann lives with her father and stepmom, Bunnie XO, who were granted full custody of her in 2017 after her mother’s struggles with drug addiction. Despite her challenging upbringing, Bailee has grown into a confident and talented teenager who shares her father’s passion for music.
She has even written her own song, “Tears Could Talk,” which was featured on Jelly Roll’s 2010 album A Beautiful Disaster. Bailee has also performed the duet with her father on stage during his Backroad Baptism Tour.
Noah Buddy: The Shy but Adventurous 7-Year-Old
Noah Buddy DeFord, Jelly Roll’s 7-year-old son, was born on August 23, 2016. Unlike Bailee, Noah’s life has been more private, with his father rarely speaking about him in interviews.
However, in 2023, Noah made a rare appearance on his stepmom’s TikTok video, where he shared his favorite hobbies, including Pokémon and soccer, and his desire for a dog and cat as pets. Fans were delighted to see Noah’s shy but charming personality shine through in the video.
Jelly Roll’s Co-Parenting Approach
Jelly Roll has spoken about the importance of co-parenting with his children’s mothers. In an interview with Taste of Country, he shared his approach to parenting Bailee and Noah, saying, “With Bailee, I’m the full-time parent, I’m the judge, the jury, and the executioner, when it comes to decisions with her… I try not to get in the way of what she [Melisa] is building over there, and I never want to step on her toes, with what she’s doing with him, that I want to just respect that boundary.”
The Importance of Family in Jelly Roll’s Life
Jelly Roll’s love and devotion to his children are evident in the way he speaks about them. He has often shared how they have changed his life for the better and how he is proud of the people they are becoming.
In a heartfelt moment after his three-win sweep at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, Jelly Roll broke down while talking about Bailee and the significance of the career milestone for their family. He said, “She knows the story. She knows how real it is.
I’m just proud of her… I love you, Bailee Ann, so much. I thought about it the moment I walked off stage. You’ve changed my life in so many ways. But it’s just unreal. This is bigger than just a single award for us. We came from nothing.”
FAQs
How old are Jelly Roll’s kids?
Bailee Ann is 15 years old, and Noah Buddy is 7 years old.
What is the name of Bailee Ann’s song?
Bailee Ann wrote a song called “Tears Could Talk,” which was featured on Jelly Roll’s 2010 album A Beautiful Disaster.