It looks like 2025 is shaping up to be a health-focused year for Jelly Roll. The 40-year-old rapper-singer, who has already made impressive progress, is determined to shed more weight in the new year and hopes to land a magazine cover to showcase his transformation.
In a December 16 episode of his wife Bunnie XO’s Dumb Blonde podcast, Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, shared his goal for 2025. “I wanna be on the cover of Men’s Health by March of 2026. That’s my new goal,” he said.
Having already lost 120 pounds from his previous weight of 550 pounds, Jelly Roll is set on continuing his journey toward an even bigger transformation. He wants to be known for having one of the most remarkable fitness stories.
Opening up about why he’s going public with his weight loss journey, Jelly Roll explained that he wants to be honest about his struggles. “I did this publicly for a reason,” he said, expressing how happy he is to share this part of his life with his audience.
Unlike other celebrities who keep their weight loss efforts private, Jelly Roll refuses to hide his journey. Many people in similar situations tend to retreat and lose weight away from the spotlight due to feelings of shame, he pointed out. They then reemerge, often unsure of how to navigate their new body and lifestyle. Jelly Roll, however, is determined to be transparent, hoping to help others who are going through similar struggles. “I wanna bring people along with me,” he said. “I didn’t become successful because of my weight. I became successful in spite of it.”
Bunnie, also known as Alyssa DeFord, praised her husband for sharing his fitness journey publicly. “I think it’s awesome that people get to watch your transformation too because they get to feel like they’re not alone,” she remarked.
Earlier in the year, Jelly Roll proudly shared his weight loss progress with fans. In October, he posted on Instagram that he had lost 100 pounds while preparing for a 5K race, receiving an outpouring of support from his followers. By November, he had shed 120 pounds, even bringing his nutritionist on tour to stay on track with his goals.
In December, Jelly Roll showcased his transformation while performing his new single, “Liar,” at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, where he also took home a trophy for his collaboration on Falling in Reverse’s “All My Life.”
Jelly Roll’s main reason for getting healthy is simple: he wants to feel good and normal. “I’ve been morbidly obese my entire life. I wanna feel normal, that’s just something I want to do,” he shared in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. His commitment to his health and his openness about the process suggest that he’s well on his way to achieving his goals.
With his continued progress, it seems likely that Jelly Roll will be on track to reach his fitness milestones in 2025 and beyond—and fans can look forward to seeing him on the cover of Men’s Health by then.