Gov. Bill Lee and Jelly Roll

Gov. Bill Lee and Jelly Roll

 Photo via the office of Gov. Bill Lee

Gov. Bill Lee pardoned 33 people on Thursday, including Antioch native and country-rap artist Jelly Roll. 

Jelly Roll — whose legal name is Jason DeFord, and who was featured in a 2023 Scene cover story — was previously convicted on robbery and drug possession charges. 

In a Dec. 10 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Jelly Roll spoke about having applied for the pardon and added that he wants to work with state lawmakers to have his right to possess firearms reinstated — something that is not granted by a pardon — so he can hunt with guns.

The Country Music Association’s 2023 New Artist of the Year was also invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry in a surprise announcement during the podcast. In April, DeFord made a surprise appearance at a 21st Judicial District Recovery Court benefit concert in Franklin, which was attended by several state lawmakers, including Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. Johnson’s wife is Williamson County Judge Deanna Johnson, who oversees the Recovery Court.

Also pardoned was Shawn Baker, who has also taken part in recovery court programs and is a member of the Justice Impacted Advisory Council, a division of the governor's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. Baker serves as the founder and CEO of the Freeman Recovery Center.

Also among the pardons is Monty Burks, who served as the deputy director of Gov. Lee’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative before he was appointed on Dec. 16 as the director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Faith Center.

“After thoroughly reviewing the merits of each case, I have decided to grant 33 individuals executive clemency,” says Lee in a release. “Each individual case is unique and warranted consideration, and I thank the Board of Parole members for their thoughtful recommendations throughout this process.

See the entire list of pardons below.

  • Janet Babb

  • Shawn Baker

  • Shawn Boss

  • Thomas Braly

  • Monty Burks

  • Grant Burnside

  • Jason "Jelly Roll" DeFord

  • Lanisha Edmond

  • Andy Giron-Freay

  • Melissa Halpin

  • Edward Hayes

  • Willie Horton

  • Jeffrey Jackson

  • Joshua Jarvis

  • Nathan Jones

  • Jeffrey Kimbel

  • Jeffrey Kottler

  • Kristy Locklear

  • Robert McEwen

  • Temeka Nixon

  • William Reed

  • Alan Roberts

  • Hector Ruiz

  • Angela Sellers

  • Clark Shepherd

  • Erika Smith

  • Jessica Stanley

  • Matthew Wade

  • Anthony Walton

  • Kennda Watkins

  • Clay Watkins

  • Steven Welch

  • Tenisha Woods

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