The following article contains references to substance use.
At the time of her birth, he was incarcerated but determined to move forward.
I would get out of jail and do everything I could to be there for her."
Meet Bailee Ann DeFord.
Jelly Roll was serving time for drug dealing at the time.
He met Bailee when she was 2 years old, and he would never be the same.
“She’s my little road dog a daddy’s girl through and through.
My favorite part of every day is her,” he wrote on Facebook in 2020.
“My daughter saved my life, and she doesn’t even know it.
On more than one occasion, my daughter was a divine intervention in my life.”
Jelly Roll speaks of his daughter with great affection and has praised her on social media.
“Being a Father has been the greatest blessing of my life,” he wrote onFacebookin 2020.
“Little did I know how much she would teach me,” he wrote.
Fans have been fortunate to get a front-row seat into their beautiful father-daughter bond.
“She made me go to court to even see her.
I barely got to see her in the early years because I was traveling so much.
I was a very less-than-present father.
Not to mention, I was drinking myself to sleep every night.”
When Bailee was a young girl, her mother, Felicia Beckwith, developed an addiction to opiates.
“I see Felicia end up in a full-blown heroin addiction,” Jelly Roll recalled.
Beckwith, who has been in and out of recovery, has had a complicated relationship with her daughter.
Bailee briefly touched on this in anInstagrampost from 2022, which detailed the highs and lows of her year.
In the documentary, Bailee and Jelly Roll shared that Beckwith was sober.
Bailee also commented on the hardships she endured as a young kid.
“As a teenager, I’ve moved on.
I’ve worked through my childhood.
But that doesn’t make it go away.
It made me who I am today.”
For example, in 2019, he posted about one of her major milestones onFacebook.
“Man, she is growing up so fast, I’m a proud pappy.
She passed with all A’s.”
He also informed fans that he took a step back from touring to be a more present father.
When Bailee started high school in 2022, her dad commemorated this accomplishment with another sweet post.
“My daughter started high school today so proud of this girl,” Jelly Roll wrote onX.
“She is turning into an incredible young lady.”
Today marks a monumental day today, our daughter started high school," Jelly Roll wrote.
He also shared his excitement about what the future holds for his daughter.
And his daughter wants him to know he is doing a great job.
“I am so freaking proud of the human, artist, and father you are.”
In anInstagrampost from 2021, Bailee spoke about her dad’s achievements again and noted his rags-to-riches story.
“He’s truly my inspiration,” she wrote.
Bailee has acknowledged how her life changed when her father and Bunnie Xo took custody of her.
In a 2019Instagrampost, she praised Jelly Roll for all he has done.
This includes being present and attending events like graduation ceremonies and dances.
“You have been by my side when nobody else could or would.
Teaching me life lessons on everything, how to deal with bullies and my feelings,” she wrote.
“I would have never got custody of my daughter without her,” he told Billboard in 2023.
“I wouldn’t have had the stability or the money.”
Bailee has shown Bunnie Xo a lot of love on social media over the years.
Bunnie has also posted about her love for Bailee, including anInstagrampost from 2023.
In 2019, Jelly Roll informed fans of her contribution to his album.
She is so so talented.
I could brag on her for days," he wrote on Facebook.
In 2020, she appeared in her father’s music video for “Tears Could Talk.”
Bailee joined her father onstage at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville in December 2022.
The musician addressed the crowd and informed them of the inspiration behind the track.
She took her dad up on that offer, and clearly, it all worked out.
“Being a father will always be my favorite.”
Bailee’s ready to head for the hills.
In a 2023TikTokclip, Jelly Roll recorded himself as he ran some corny two-liners by his daughter.
“She’s not amused,” the musician wrote in the caption.
Fans were very amused, though; the comment section was filled with supportive messages.
Bailee also has fun with her mama, Bunnie Xo.
When Noah arrived on August 23, 2016, Jelly Roll announced his birth onFacebook.
“God Bless this Child to be everything I am not!
I pray he nor Bailee ever have to pay for their father’s sins,” he wrote.
After Noah’s birth, the musician updated fans on how Bailee was adjusting.
“She’s so happy to be a big sister!
I’ve seen it all, and nothing compares to this!”
he wrote onFacebookfour days after the original post.
Unlike Bailee, Noah’s life is more private.
His mother is a woman named Melisa, who keeps out of the public eye.
In an Instagram Story (viaTaste of Country), Bunnie Xo expressed her love for Melisa.
In August 2023, Jelly Roll offered another glimpse into what the blended family’s dynamic looks like.
Her mama has been there through all the ups and downs, which Bailee addressed in anInstagrampost from 2020.
“I had to learn that you could drink alcohol without doing cocaine.
It took me a long time to learn that,” he toldPeoplein 2023.
“I’ve never said that, but that’s real.”
As previously noted, Bailee DeFord’s biological mother also has a history of addiction.
Jelly Roll wants a different path for his daughter.
“We’ve seen crack.
We’ve seen cocaine.
We’ve seen opioids.
“My daughter will never experience the safety of experimenting with drugs,” he continued.
Just be safe.'”
As far as Jelly Roll is concerned, there’s no such thing as “safe” experimenting nowadays.
“It was kinda my daughter’s dream, to be honest,” he said.
It’s called Buddy’s Toy Drive, after my late father.
So I thought we had a platform to do it big."
This is just one of the many positive personality traits that Bailee has.
And her proud father shared a few more in aFacebookpost in 2021.
“Our daughter Bailee Ann is blossoming into a decently mannered teenager.
“You are everything I hoped for in a daughter.”
Alas, Bailee isn’t the biggest fan of these particular tattoos.
“She picks on me about it all the time.
Now she makes fun of me,” the musician toldPeoplein 2023.
I mean, it takes the whole side of my head up.”
Frankly, he no longer likes most of them.
“I have more tattoo regrets than I do.
‘Man, I’m glad I got this,'” he said on “Audacy Check In.”
In the same chat, he admitted he’d consideredcovering all of the tattooson his arms.
“It’s embarrassing.”
Bailee Ann DeFord’s basketball team ‘changed’ her
Bailee Ann DeFord has a sporty side.
In 2018, she shared onInstagramthat she’d joined a basketball team at her local YMCA.
“I always thought it was better to work alone than with my friends.
I never thought I could ever work on a team.
These girls changed me,” she wrote alongside a photo of herself and her team.
Bailee also credited her father for getting her involved.
Though music ultimately was his calling, Jelly Roll was also drawn to sports at a young age.
“I played football, basketball, and soccer.
“Woke up proud of them Titans baby,” he wrote while wearing a Titan’s jacket.
He has also supported high school football.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
For many years, Bailee struggled to accept her father’s busy concert schedule.
All the nights that Bailee missed having her dad at home certainly added up.
At times, she even began to question her dad’s career choices.
Since she’s gotten older, however, Bailee has shifted her perspective.
Over the years, Jelly Roll has acquired an enthusiastic fan base.
This was especially true in 2024 when Bailee accompanied her father to the Stagecoach music festival.
Surrounded by the enthusiastic crowds, Bailee was no shrinking violet.
During the middle of Jelly Roll’s performance, she joined her father onstage.
Apparently, Bailee enjoyed the experience even if it was a little overwhelming.
“She was embarrassed, but in a good way.
Like in a real fun-hearted way,” the rapper added.
“I want to go to Columbia for law,” Bailee revealed.
She went on to explain that her ultimate goal was to become a criminal defense lawyer.
Of course, the teen also admitted that she could eventually change interests.
“I have a lot of options at Columbia,” Bailee said.
Medicine is apparently not in Bailee’s future something that she realized after a trip to the emergency room.
“The real decision was made in the ER the other night.
I decided I don’t want to dothatfor the rest of my life,” she joked.
Instead, Bailee hopes to be a source of positive social change.
For now, she feels that law is the best way to accomplish that.
Indeed,Jelly Roll was arrested when he was just 13 years old.
Jelly Roll says that he and Bailee are different people and he reminds her of this occasionally.
When speaking to his daughter about this reality, Jelly Roll tries to keep his overall message positive.
I judge you based on what I know you’re capable of.
You’re so much smarter than I was at 16.
You’re so much better, so much more emotionally intelligent.
you could read a room so much better.”
That being said, for Bailee’s parents, the process hasn’t been easy.
In her motherly opinion, this meant that Bailee’s date would need to pay for her dinner.
“Call me if you need me,” she told the teen.
“If you get any weird vibes, come f***ing home.”
