Jelly Roll admits he was ‘court ordered’ to attend his first AA meeting at 14
Jelly Roll admitted he was just a teenager when he was “court-ordered” to attend his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
While discussing his experience in AA and Narcotics Anonymous on Friday’s episode of Sirius XM’s “The Highway,” the 39-year-old singer said, “Oh goodness. I don’t fully remember my first real meeting ’cause I was court-ordered at like 14.
“I don’t remember it as much as I should,” Jelly — whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord — added.
“But, I definitely remember the first time that I found solace in those rooms, or the first time that I kind of got introduced to the concept of this and how much stuff I’ve taken from them rooms.”
He went on to add that he had “never been more inspired” than when “leaving an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.”
“I think everybody should experience one if you’ve never drank in your life,” the “Somebody Save Me” singer continued.
“I still think that there is something from it that is, you know, the good ones are like good theater. They’ll make you listen, you’ll learn, you’ll laugh and you’ll cry.”
Jelly Roll’s experiences in AA and NA inspired his song, “I Am Not Okay,” he told host Ania Hammar.
The artist — who has opened up about his sobriety journey in the past — previously admitted in May that he used marijuana to stay away from harder drugs.
“I think a world without weed, Jelly Roll’s drinking codeine and popping Xanax and snorting cocaine again, but a world with weed, I’ll be alright,” he told Taste of Country.
“I get in trouble for this, all the time, but my stance on marijuana will always be the same: I believe marijuana has helped me in so many regards, with my anxiety,” he added.
“This is a hot button topic, but, truly, marijuana has kept me sober.”
