Jelly Roll has captivated audiences with not only his award-winning music, but also his extraordinary weight loss. He admitted recently to losing more than 200 pounds—without the help of any types of weight-loss drugs or injections.
Speaking on the debut of the Not A Damn Chance Podcast, the “I Am Not Okay” singer’s reason for not relying on meds, however, may not have been the first guess of most listeners. According to Jelly Roll, the risks of potential harm to his voice outweighed any weight-loss benefits.
“I’m proud to say I haven’t taken the shot,” he tells hosts Neen Williams and Phillip Frankland Lee. “Not because I’m against it—everyone I know supports the shot. In fact, everyone I’ve consulted regarding my health is in favor of it. My concern is that it causes a slight acid reflux, and as a singer, my two biggest fears are acid reflux and vocal strain. Nothing can damage your vocals more than vomiting or severe acid reflux.”
Jelly Roll’s recent years have been marked by major success and recognition in music. His album A Beautiful Disaster debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, and he’s scored chart-topping singles like “Save Me” and “Son of a Sinner.” His blends of country, rap, and rock have won him loyal fans and industry accolades alike. Notably, Jelly Roll was received the 2023 CMA New Artist of the Year Award, along with a host of other awards, making him one of the most notable artists of this generation.
The weight loss is just one part of Jelly Roll’s path to transformation began with hitting rock bottom. After enduring incarceration, addiction, and personal turmoil, he found purpose in reclaiming his life — not through fleeting fame or fortune, but in repairing his relationship with his daughter and becoming a present father. “I woke up at five o’clock in the morning and took a bus across town just to walk my daughter to the bus stop,” he shares, reflecting on his renewed dedication to family as a foundation for change.
“The hardest part is having an introspective moment where you go, I did this,” he reflects. “It was so easy to spend so much time in jail, and blame my neighborhood, my mother, my father, childhood trauma. It can have a part of why you end up in jail, for sure, but what I ended up learning was I was so busy blaming everything else but me, I never actually took accountability. And then one day, you got to sit in the mirror and go, Man, this I did this like at the end of the day. I truly put myself in this position, and I lost all that anger, and it’s the first time that I didn’t let the shame spiral.”
Personal Responsibility Helped Transform Jelly Roll
Food addiction played a significant role in Jelly Roll’s struggle. Describing it as similar to drug addiction, he realized that his compulsive eating masked deeper emotional pain and numbness. By applying principles of addiction recovery—such as understanding cravings and emotional triggers—he began redefining his relationship with food. His nutrition coach adapted favorite comfort foods into healthier versions, helping him transition from fried and processed meals to nourishing, clean eating without sacrificing enjoyment.
Jelly Roll emphasizes the importance of patience and consistency over instant results: “That first month, your body is going through so many changes that you won’t see the results you think you’re entitled to.” Early frustrations with hormonal imbalances and slow progress were met with perseverance, smart adjustments, and medical support, including hormone therapy that helped balance testosterone and improve vitality.
“That alone changed so much for me,” he says. “[Am I] on testosterone? Oh, for sure, and it’s been the greatest thing that’s ever happened. I woke up with morning wood on Week 3].”
Exercise gradually became a joyful part of his life rather than a chore. Starting with small, manageable movements—walking around venues, playing basketball, boxing, and light resistance training—he built momentum without burnout. The mantra “consistency over intensity” became crucial as he focused on sustainable lifestyle changes. Encouraging those battling obesity, he advises embracing incremental gains rather than seeking rapid weight loss.
Throughout his journey, Jelly Roll maintained a mindset of continuous micro-adjustments—small shifts in perspective and habit that compound into profound change. Viewing obstacles as opportunities and pain as purpose, he learned to interpret setbacks as lessons rather than failures. This mindset also expanded his empathy toward others, transforming past anger into compassion.
Importantly, Jelly Roll rejects the notion of the “fat curse” that suggests weight loss harms an artist’s career. Instead, he sees his success as occurring in spite of his weight and anticipates that shedding excess pounds will only propel him further. “I have managed to be successful carrying an unnecessary 350 pounds. Now, I’m on a rocket ship,” he declares with confidence.