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Jelly Roll's recent Grammy wins are set to have an impact beyond the awards stage. Following his success at the 2026 Grammy Awards, the country artist plans to donate one of his trophies to a Nashville juvenile detention center, according to his wife, Bunnie Xo.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on Sunday, Feb. 1, Bunnie shared that one of Jelly Roll's gramophones will be placed at the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center. "I know he's gonna give one to the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center in Nashville to give them a little inspiration and let them, you know, have a Grammy to themselves," she said. Reacting to her husband's decision, she added, "That is my husband. That's what he does."
Jelly Roll won three awards at the ceremony, including Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Amen" with Shaboozey, Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Hard Fought Hallelujah" with Brandon Lake. Bunnie joked that she intended to claim one of the trophies herself, saying, "I'm getting one for sure because I feel like I earned it. Teamwork makes the dream work, baby."
Days later, Jelly Roll confirmed how the remaining awards would be distributed. "I'm going to obviously keep one at the studio because that was my dream," he told Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, Feb. 4. He explained that another Grammy would be given to Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall to be displayed at the jail. "So people know there's life after," Sarah Michelle Gellar added during the interview.
The decision reflects Jelly Roll's personal history. Born Jason DeFord, the singer grew up in Nashville and has openly discussed being incarcerated more than 40 times on drug-related charges after his first arrest at age 14. He previously spent time at both the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center and the Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility.
In a 2022 interview with PEOPLE, Jelly Roll discussed donating a recording studio to the same juvenile detention facility, reflecting on the time he spent there during his
youth. He described being in and out of the center for several years and said the experience had a lasting influence on his life. He also noted that his earliest involvement with music began during that period, including writing some of his first rap lyrics and participating in early rap battles while at the facility.
During his Grammy acceptance speech, Jelly Roll reflected on his past and credited both faith and family for helping him change direction in life. He described a period when he was incarcerated and said that, at the time, he relied heavily on religion and music as sources of hope and guidance, believing they played a major role in shaping his path forward.
Jelly Roll's Grammy recognition comes after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted him a pardon in December 2025, marking another milestone in the artist's journey.
