Jelly Roll Shares Emotional Talk He Had with Daughter, Who's Now the Same Age He Was When He Was Arrested (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Bailee and Jelly Roll at the Kids' Choice Awards 2024.Photo:Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Jelly Rollwas just 14 years old the first time he was arrested — but he’s not worried that histeenage daughter Baileewill make his same mistakes.

Inthis week’s cover story, the Grammy-nominated singer, 39, opens up to PEOPLE about the conversations he has with daughter Bailee, 16, recalling one recent chat where he reminded her just how much potential he sees in her.

Jelly, who is also dad to8-year-old son Noah, says Bailee is “totally ahead” of where he was as a teenager, and that he feels confident she has a bright future ahead.

Jelly Roll.Peter Yang

Peter Yang

“When I look at what she does that I consider horrible, I look back at what I was doing at 16, and I’m like, ‘Oh man…’ When I’m hard on her about stuff or a little pushy, she knows it’s from love,” he says.

The “Winning Streak” singer and his wifeBunnie Xohave had full custody of Bailee since 2017 due to Bailee’s mom’s struggle with drug addiction (Jelly has since said that Bailee and her mom are working on mending their relationship).

“We were really, really close before it exploded, but she understands what it’s doing for her future and the family’s future,” he says. “She’s a really hammered down kid. She’s been in the same public school district for 10 years and had the same friends since me and Bunnie have had custody of her. I think a lot of that has helped.”

Jelly Roll and Bailee at the 2024 Stagecoach Festival in April.Amy Sussman/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty

Bailee recently appeared on Bunnie’sDumb Blondepodcast, and revealed that she hopes to go to Columbia University after high school, with a plan to become a criminal defense lawyer.

“That’s where I wanna go, and I wanna study law. As for music, I don’t have any plans for it right now,” she said.

The teen also revealed that most of her classmates have moved past the fact that she has a famous dad.

“We’re all kinda used to it,” she said. “He’s come to football games, and whatever. So I think everybody’s kind of over that ‘Oh, my God.’ And, also, people are kinda just know not to f— with me. I’m just not the one. So it’s pretty easy. Other than that, making new friendships is hard, but I just don’t do that anymore.”

For more on Jelly Roll, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere now.

source: people.com