Jelly Roll opens up about the moment he realized he needed to change his life and why his 200-pound weight loss journey became a fight for survival.
The 41-year-old singer shared the emotional turning point during his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experienceremembering how close he felt to losing everything.
“I could feel myself dying,” he admitted, describing the fear that gripped him as he approached his 39th birthday.
He said he took a close look at his health and the number on the scale, adding, “I don’t think I’ve ever met a 40-year-old who weighs 500 pounds.”
That thought alone sparked a level of urgency that he could no longer ignore.
Jelly Roll explained that he felt like he had “already cheated at the game” after surviving “multiple heart problems” and knew he wasn’t going to get many more chances.
“I thought, man, I should really start trying to figure this out,” he said.
What followed was a two-year transformation fueled by determination, vulnerability, and a desire to help others going through similar struggles.
She said she never expected to lose weight, but hoped that speaking about her experience could encourage people who feel trapped in their own battles with obesity.
He recalled the first day he committed to walking 10,000 steps, a moment he described as life-changing.
His wife Bunnie XO and daughter tried to dissuade him from going because it was pouring rain, but he refused. “In my mind, I thought, ‘No. I’m going out. I’m done lying to all of you and I’m not going to lie to myself anymore.'”
When he got home, soaked from the weather, he broke down at the sight of his family cheering him on.
“They had every reason not to come out and cheer me up,” she said, explaining how years of broken promises about their weight had worn them down.
But that moment made him realize how deeply his food addiction had affected not only his health, but also his relationships.
Jelly Roll said the trip forced him to face painful truths, including how being severely overweight had affected his marriage and intimacy.
Therapy helped him discover the emotional roots of his eating habits and, over time, built a healthier relationship with food.
“Now I only eat what I need,” he said.
Today, she feels “very, very good,” having dropped clothing sizes and even changed the size of her Oura ring five times.
Fans have noticed his slimmer face and energetic presence in recent months, visible signs of a transformation that began with fear but turned into hope.
And for Jelly Roll, the message is simple: if he could do it, anyone can do it.
