Jelly Roll’s Nickname Stuck Thanks To ‘One-Armed Clay’

Jelly Roll has long talked about how he got his name from his mother, who always called him Jelly Roll as a kid. Backstage at CMA Fest earlier this month, Jelly told us that it was one friend in particular who made his mom's nickname stick.

Jelly said when we asked him about the origin of his nickname and professional moniker, "Well, it started with my mother. I was a chunky little kid who loved donuts, and every Sunday after church, I would get one, and my mom would call me Little Jelly Roll."

He continued, "And then I had a high school friend named One-Armed Clay, [in] middle school actually, that started calling me that because he knew it was my mama's nickname for me, and it stuck once One-Armed Clay started calling me that."

Jelly then pointed out that nicknames are not the same as stage names for one reason. He asked, "Do you know what the difference is between a nickname and a stage name? You wanna guess? You don't get to pick your nickname. [But] you could pick your stage name. I would have been Zeus the Warrior or something if I got to pick it. I think that's what makes a nickname so cool."

He added, "I'm from where everybody had a nickname, and none of them were ever good. I got a friend named Ting-a-ling and one named Dew Bug. We had a kid in our neighborhood named S--- Stain, and we just called him S--- for short. I am not making this up; ya'll; I can introduce you to S---. We are a motley crew, to say the least."

Dwyane Johnson recently posted a cover shot of Jelly's new album Whitsitt Chapel encouraging fans to check it out.

Johnson posted, "I'm so I'm proud of my brother @jellyroll615 for the latest achievement of his phenomenal new album WHITSITT CHAPEL. My guy is blowing up the industry and moving the crowds. He's a real authentic artist who brings PASSION & MANA to his music -and he brings a joy and gratitude that can only come from experience and living the life."

He continued, "Many years ago before he blew up, his music helped me get through a rough patch in my life. I'll never forget it. Grateful. Proud of you, my brother - keep doing it big and keep lifting the people up. We'll get our asses down to Music Row and pop that @teremana baby ."

He concluded, "Everybody downloads this album!!! Listen to it, and you'll understand why. We've all been there…#JellyRoll #WhitsittChapel #615."

See that post here.

Jelly Roll won three awards at this year's (4/2) CMT Music Awards. The one-time rapper recently scored his first country music chart-topper "Son of A Sinner." Born and raised in Antoich (right outside of Nashville), Jelly Roll has won the hearts of his fellow country stars and the heart of country music fans worldwide.

He made his first on the CMT Music Awards performance, joined by a full gospel choir, with his song "Need A Favor." That was followed by an enthusiastic standing ovation by the whole house.

Jelly Roll's awards came before his new album, Whitsitt Chapel, was released on June 2. Titled after the church the Antioch native grew up attending, the debut full-length Country project on BMG/Stoney Creek Records features 13 tracks.

Before his current time in country music, Jelly was known as a Southern Hip Hop artist. Beginning in 2010, he collaborated with Lil Wyte, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf, Tech N9ne, and Ryan Upchurch. His 2010 collaboration "Pop Another Pill" with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte reached over 6.3 million YouTube views and started his career.

A record label executive in Nashville told me they were looking for the Post Malone of country music and found that in Jelly. His real name is Jason DeFord, and his Jelly Roll nickname comes from his mother, who called him Jelly Roll when he was a young, as he said, a "chubby" kid.

As Jelly's star continues to rise, we take a look at his last few years in the national spotlight.