According to recent reports, country music star Jelly Roll is training to compete in a half-marathon. The singer, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, has recently shed between 50 and 75 pounds and is continuing to lose weight.
After dipping his feet in the water with several smaller races, DeFord aims to run a half marathon next year. “I’m training as you can train, it’s an 18-month process,” he said. “I want to do another couple 5Ks first, so the goal is to half-marathon next fall.”
Earlier this month, Jelly Roll successfully completed his first 5K at the Rose Bowl, the 2 Bears 5K challenge hosted by comedians Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura. DeFord noted that he has made significant progress in his ability to run.
“I couldn’t walk a mile when I started trying to do this back in January,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “So, the fact that we got three-point-whatever it was done today, I felt really, really good about it.” The musician further stated that he had lost “like fifty to seventy-something pounds” in the process of training for the 5K.
DeFord told Fox News Digital that completing the 5K race, just over 3 miles, was an incredible experience. He particularly noted how blessed he was to do it with his friends and family, such as his wife and Kreischer. Jelly Roll said it was “incredible, man, but I also had the luxury of doing it with friends and family. I had the luxury of walking it with Bert Kreischer and my wife and my whole crew came out to support me. It was like really, really cool, man.”
However, during a segment on her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Jelly Roll’s wife Bunny Xo, explained that her husband had been bullied online for his weight. This ultimately led the singer to take a break from social media. “My husband got off the internet because he is so tired of being bullied about his f—ing weight,” she said. “That makes me want to cry because he is the sweetest angel baby.”
The famous country star was set to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards last week, where he would showcase his new song, “Liar.” DeFord explained that he also hopes to receive an award during the event.
“I’m also praying, praying that one of the four times they say my name it gets called! You know what I’m saying, for sure. It’s kind of like that old thing at one like, and I’m having a beer, and then they like their own Instagram post. That’s me. One award and we’re partying, baby,” Jelly Roll said.
As it would turn out, DeFord’s wishes would come true as he received his first ACM award for the music event of the year for his performance of “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson. “I never thought I would be standing here!” Mr. Roll said in his acceptance speech. “I thought I would die and go to jail, and I’m standing here as an ACM award winner! You hear what I’m talking about Texas?! Let’s go, baby!” Watch Jelly Roll’s performance of “Liar” at the ACM awards.
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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