Jelly Roll has been honest about his past issues — including a felony conviction and struggling with drug addiction — and how he turned his life around through music.

The meteoric rise of his career into a country superstar is a testament to second chances, and his recent recognition by a Michigan Sheriff’s Department further shows that, while difficult, changing your life is possible.

Jelly was sworn in as a deputy sheriff during a recent visit to the Genesee County Jail in Michigan on Saturday (July 27). The singer was at the jail for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a music studio at the facility meant to help rehabilitate inmates. He later performed to 15,000 people at the Tailgate N’ Tallboys festival in Midland, Mich.

Jelly Roll’s Past

Jelly Roll’s journey has been well-documented: He came from humble beginnings and had a rough road along the way that included drug addiction and prison time for a felony, a charge that he incurred at 16 after he was arrested for aggravated robbery.

The singer has been open about how that conviction is still impacting his life and ability to tour today. Because Tennessee has a zero-forgiveness policy for felony offenders, Jelly Roll’s felony charge is still on his record, and the repercussions have continuing implications for both his personal and professional life.

For instance, he was denied his dream home and also, until recently, couldn’t play any shows outside of the U.S.

Jelly Roll Officially Sworn in as a Sheriff’s Deputy

Jelly Roll recently visited Flint, Mich., and stopped by the Genesse County Sheriff’s office to see his pal, Sheriff Christopher Swanson, who he has visited before for some philanthropy work.

Little did Jelly know that on this day he was going to become a sheriff’s deputy for Genesse County.

Detroit radio station WYCD was there to document the whole process.

Sheriff Swanson stands at the podium and begins the process in the video above:

“It is my honor to extend, a deputy status, and he’s going to be sworn in today as a deputy sheriff for the county of Genesse, right here, in Flint, Michigan, with his own badge.”

The Sheriff continues, “Ladies and gentleman, get your cameras ready, Jason, will you stand right here, and raise your right hand?”

At this point, Jelly raises his hand and is sworn in.

Sheriff Swanson then hands Jelly his badge and proclaims, “This is your badge, this is the real deal, you walk into any facility now, you can tell them you’re a deputy sheriff for Genesse County!”

As Jelly holds up his badge, Sheriff Swanson says, “Now that’s second chances.”

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. He plays the best new country music and interviews today’s top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!