It’s a memory every father dreams of, watching his daughter get ready for prom. Jelly Roll, the giant of country rap stars with an ego nearly as big as his worldwide hit singles, had a soft, unforgettably sentimental moment with his daughter before prom. Wearing her beautiful party dress, she was smiling from ear to ear, and lo and behold, look who was standing here, Jelly, a proud father with that look in his eyes, the look that says, “How did my little girl grow up so fast?” This was, though, not a photo shoot. It was a memory, a hug frozen in time, and a reminder that no matter how grown up he may become, family is first.

Jelly Roll  never hesitates to share his ugly past with the world, but moments like these reveal his soft side. The same person who can captivate a crowd with his music can captivate his little girl’s smile with a single shining, proud smile. To a man who has known worst, witnessing his little girl shine is witnessing part of his heart stroll around dressed in nice attire.

This isn’t a tale of a father-daughter relationship, it’s one of development. Jelly Roll has been on a path, from his criminal youth to being a doting father and music sensation who never lost sight of where he started. The juxtaposition between his tattooed exterior and his gentler moments with his daughter is proof: behind every hardman is a heart that is deeply loving. 

However, Jelly’s odyssey did not end there. As he used to say himself, life only got more intricate once he befriended Bunnie, a woman who didn’t only win over his heart but also saved his family. While Jelly fought for sole guardianship of his daughter and yet did not even have a steady residence of his own, Bunnie saved him. She didn’t say those words “I love you” so much as demonstrated it. From assisting Jelly in obtaining a home to assisting him through the most difficult choices, Bunnie demonstrated that love is not merely a word it’s a deed.

Her virtue wasn’t simply being his wife, it was being his daughter’s hero, as well. Even if she didn’t have a clue where things were going between them, she vowed to be there for him to defend his little girl. That is not only love, that’s integrity. Jelly’s voice may be iconic for its unadulterated strength, but Bunnie’s unassuming stand is the true refrain of his life.

Jelly Roll is not only a musical phenomenon, he’s a father, a husband, and a man who understands what it’s like to be saved by love. Catch up with his story on his socials, he doesn’t just put out music, he puts out his personal and heartfelt stories from his life.