Jelly Roll Receives Prestigious Global Literacy Award

Jelly Roll (aka Jason DeFord) has received a significant, yet unexpected, award.

At this year’s World Literacy Summit held in Oxford, UK, the Son Of A Sinner singer received the Global Literacy Award this week (8 April).

In addition to receiving the prestigious award, Jelly Roll was the speaker for an allocated program, The Journey of a little boy from broken to Beautifully Broken, along with Genesee County Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson.

Jelly Roll won the Global Literacy Award for his “global influence on literacy.” He was awarded during a ceremony yesterday at the Examination School, University of Oxford, as part of the 2025 World Literacy Summit. Representatives from the World Bank and publishers HarperCollins and Penguin Books were in attendance to honour the singer.

The singer-songwriter and award-winning musician was also celebrated for his groundbreaking rise in the music industry. In the last two years, Jelly Roll has received over 50 international award nominations, making a huge mark on the industry.

Of course, Jelly’s story is even more significant following his struggles with the law in his early life. He was incarcerated within the juvenile justice system at the age of 15, and now, he gives back: Jelly Roll is an advocate for improving foundational literacy with educational programs and resources in the justice system—not just in the US but on a global scale—especially among young offenders.

The program was also set to highlight Jelly’s personal journey, which included receiving his GED while incarcerated and working with grassroots organisations and larger institutions that encourage literacy and education, particularly for those impacted by the justice system.

Last month, Jelly Roll performed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry. When he isn’t in Oxford, the singer is on the road in the US, touring in support of his latest album, Beautifully Broken. He’ll also be a special guest on tour with Post Malone in May and June, promoting his country LP F-1 Trillion. You can find all of Jelly Roll’s upcoming tour dates here.