Jelly Roll reflects on parenting a 16-year-old daughter after being arrested as a teenager

On By Littum

Jelly Roll opens up about an emotional conversation he had with his 16-year-old daughter Bailee, who is now the same age he was during his struggles as a teenager.

speaks to People in an interview published Wednesday, the “Need a Favor” singer recalled telling Bailee, “I don’t judge you by what you do. I judge you by what I know you’re capable of.”

Jelly Roll performs onstage at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 20, 2024.

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“You’re so much smarter than I was when I was 16,” he added of his chat with her. “You’re so much better, so much more emotionally intelligent. You can read a room so much better. So don’t try to talk your way out of trouble, Miss Sassy, ​​by weaponizing my past.”

He told People: “When I look at what she does, which I consider terrible, I look back at what I did at 16 and I’m like, ‘Oh man…’ When I’m hard on her in terms of things or something. a little pushy, she knows it’s from love.”

Jelly Roll who is married Bunnie Xois also a proud father to his 8-year-old son Noah in addition to Bailee, both from previous relationships.

The singer’s troubled past was first arrested at the age of 14 and included 40 prison terms for various offences, as detailed in a Billboard profile and the 2023 Hulu documentary “Jelly Roll: Save Me.”

Jelly Roll and daughter Bailee Ann attend the world premiere of the documentary film “Jelly Roll: Save Me” at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., May 30, 2023.

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While in prison, Jelly Roll found out that he had fathered Bailee – a revelation that became the turning point in his life.

“It’s like a Damascus Road experience in the Bible,” he said during his appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” in 2023. “I immediately thought, ‘I have to do something. I have to stop this s—. I have to find out.”

Earlier this year, Jelly Roll brought Bailee on stage during his Stagecoach performance in 2024, where he had the crowd sing “Happy Birthday” to celebrate her upcoming 16th birthday.

“It was really cool, man,” he shared.Good morning America” about the surprise after. “She’s about two weeks away from her birthday, but it was the closest I’d ever come to that many people singing for her.”

“She was embarrassed, but in a good way,” he added at the time. “Like in a really funny way.”