Jelly Roll Shares He Wasn't Allowed to See Daughter Bailee Ann After His Release from Jail: 'Just Wanted to Be a Good Dad'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jelly Roll and his daughter Bailee Ann.Photo:Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Jelly Rollis opening up about his fatherhood journey after returning home from jail.During the March 3 episode of theSmartLesspodcast, the “All My Life” singer, 40, opened up to hostsJason Bateman, 56,Sean Hayes, 54, andWill Arnett, 54, about his visitation rights and building a relationship with hisdaughter Bailee Ann, 17, after he was released from jail.“I got home when she was almost 2,” he recalled. “Her mother, at the time, because I was rightfully so a f—— criminal, wouldn’t let me see her. So I had to go to court. I had to get supervised visits through the courtroom.““I had to step that very slow, build a relationship, then six hours on Friday evening, but she had to be home before 10 p.m. I just had to I had to keep going to the court every six months and going, ‘Look, I’m continuing to prove I’m changing,’ " he continued. “Music, like being famous, wasn’t even a thought then. I just wanted to be a good dad.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Jelly Roll and his daughter Bailee Ann.Amy Sussman/GettyThe proud dad, who also has a sonnamed Noah, 8, also reflected on his daughter’s growth throughout the years during the podcast.“Fast forward, that same little girl that was born when I was incarcerated is fixing to turn 17 years old,” he said. “She’s got one of the highest GPAs at her high school. She’s a dual enrollment kid and is a junior going to college. Me and my wife have had full custody of her for eight years. This is one of our best friends.“The country music singer has repeatedly shared how the birth of his daughter in 2008 forever changed his life for the better. On the day she was born, Jelly Roll was in prison for drug dealing.“I could no longer be selfish. There was something that was solely relying on me,” Jelly Roll openly shared with 105.7The Point. “I knew that that was an important task. So I wanted to take it seriously. And I did. I take it very seriously to this day.”Jelly Roll, his wife Bunnie Xo and and his daughter Bailee Ann.Kevin Mazur/GettyIn aNovember 2024 cover story, Jelly Roll spoke with PEOPLE about how his close-knit family helped him focus on a brighter future and how they remain pillars of support as stardom continues to rock his world.“I prioritize family, and that’s what anchors me down,” he said. “Everything that I believe going right for me is in the fact that I’m pretty grounded in my family.”Though he admitted to PEOPLE his daughter doesn’t love how his recent fame has “taken away from the us time,” she recognizes the good it’s doing their family.“We were really, really close before it exploded, but she understands what it’s doing for her future and the family’s future,” he said. “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 Rollis opening up about his fatherhood journey after returning home from jail.

During the March 3 episode of theSmartLesspodcast, the “All My Life” singer, 40, opened up to hostsJason Bateman, 56,Sean Hayes, 54, andWill Arnett, 54, about his visitation rights and building a relationship with hisdaughter Bailee Ann, 17, after he was released from jail.

“I got home when she was almost 2,” he recalled. “Her mother, at the time, because I was rightfully so a f—— criminal, wouldn’t let me see her. So I had to go to court. I had to get supervised visits through the courtroom.”

“I had to step that very slow, build a relationship, then six hours on Friday evening, but she had to be home before 10 p.m. I just had to I had to keep going to the court every six months and going, ‘Look, I’m continuing to prove I’m changing,’ " he continued. “Music, like being famous, wasn’t even a thought then. I just wanted to be a good dad.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jelly Roll and his daughter Bailee Ann.Amy Sussman/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty

The proud dad, who also has a sonnamed Noah, 8, also reflected on his daughter’s growth throughout the years during the podcast.

“Fast forward, that same little girl that was born when I was incarcerated is fixing to turn 17 years old,” he said. “She’s got one of the highest GPAs at her high school. She’s a dual enrollment kid and is a junior going to college. Me and my wife have had full custody of her for eight years. This is one of our best friends.”

The country music singer has repeatedly shared how the birth of his daughter in 2008 forever changed his life for the better. On the day she was born, Jelly Roll was in prison for drug dealing.

“I could no longer be selfish. There was something that was solely relying on me,” Jelly Roll openly shared with 105.7The Point. “I knew that that was an important task. So I wanted to take it seriously. And I did. I take it very seriously to this day.”

Jelly Roll, his wife Bunnie Xo and and his daughter Bailee Ann.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

In aNovember 2024 cover story, Jelly Roll spoke with PEOPLE about how his close-knit family helped him focus on a brighter future and how they remain pillars of support as stardom continues to rock his world.

“I prioritize family, and that’s what anchors me down,” he said. “Everything that I believe going right for me is in the fact that I’m pretty grounded in my family.”

Though he admitted to PEOPLE his daughter doesn’t love how his recent fame has “taken away from the us time,” she recognizes the good it’s doing their family.

“We were really, really close before it exploded, but she understands what it’s doing for her future and the family’s future,” he said. “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.”

source: people.com