Jelly Roll New Song 2025: The Shift You Didn't See Coming
Honestly, if you’ve been following Jason DeFord—better known as Jelly Roll—the last few years have felt like one long, emotional revival. We’ve all seen him go from the guy rapping in the back of a van to the tattooed face of modern country music. But as we move into 2025, something is shifting. If you're looking for that same old "I'm miserable and stuck in the gutter" vibe, you might be in for a surprise.
The Jelly Roll new song 2025 cycle kicked off with a massive bang through a collaboration that almost nobody had on their bingo card: "Bloodline" with Alex Warren.
Released officially in May 2025, "Bloodline" isn't just a catchy radio tune. It’s a heavy, folk-pop-leaning country track that Alex Warren included on his debut album You’ll Be Alright, Kid. It hit the top 10 in the UK and New Zealand, which is wild for a guy who, just five years ago, was mostly known in middle Tennessee and certain corners of the internet.
But why does this matter for 2025? Because it signals a change in tone. Jelly is "getting lighter," both physically and mentally.
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The "Bold Swing" of His 11th Studio Album
Jelly Roll has been incredibly vocal about the fact that his upcoming 11th studio album—the follow-up to the massive success of Beautifully Broken—is going to be a "bold swing."
He’s mentioned in recent interviews, including a pretty deep chat on the Human School podcast, that he’s tired of writing from a place of pure hopelessness. "I wrote so many hopeless songs because that’s the only emotion I felt," he admitted. Now? He’s a guy who’s ten years into a solid marriage, watching his daughter go to college, and living a life he never thought he’d see.
Basically, the music is finally meeting him where he is now, not where he was in a prison cell fifteen years ago.
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Key Releases and Collabs To Watch In 2025
You've probably noticed he's everywhere lately. It’s not just solo tracks; it’s the way he’s weaving himself into the fabric of every genre.
- "Bloodline" (with Alex Warren): Dropped May 22, 2025. It’s about the cycles we inherit and the struggle to break them.
- "Amen" (with Shaboozey): This one landed in April 2025. It’s a gritty, soulful track featured on the complete edition of Shaboozey’s album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going.
- "Holy Water" (with Marshmello): Released August 8, 2025. It’s a crossover that sounds exactly like what you’d expect—high energy with that signature Jelly rasp.
- "Hard Fought Hallelujah": This collab with Brandon Lake has been cleaning up at award shows like the K-Love Fan Awards and the GMA Dove Awards. It’s leaned heavily into the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) space.
There’s also been a lot of buzz around a track called "Heart of Stone," which was serviced to radio as a single from the Beautifully Broken era in early 2025. It’s a stripped-back ballad that reminds everyone that even when he’s "going pop" or "going Christian," he still has that raw vocal power that made him a star in the first place.
Why Fans Are Kinda Worried (But Shouldn't Be)
There’s a segment of the fanbase—the ones who have been around since Whiskey, Weed, and Women—who are a little nervous. They see him winning Dove Awards and wonder if the "old Jelly" is gone.
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Look, he’s aware of it. He’s been called a "lukewarm" or "fence-rider" because he doesn’t fit neatly into the "Christian Artist" box or the "Outlaw Country" box anymore.
But here’s the thing: his new music in 2025 reflects a man who is 260 pounds lighter than he was at his peak. He’s literally a different person. If the music didn't change, it wouldn't be authentic. And if there’s one thing Jelly Roll is, it’s authentic to a fault.
What’s Next: The Big Ass Stadium Tour and Beyond
If you want to hear the Jelly Roll new song 2025 live, you’re going to have to head to a stadium. He’s spent a huge chunk of the year as the direct support for Post Malone’s "BIG ASS Stadium Tour." This tour has taken him across the US, into Canada, and even over to Europe (Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan). It’s a massive platform. Imagine 50,000 people screaming the lyrics to "Save Me" followed immediately by a new, unreleased track about his journey through therapy. That’s the 2025 reality.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the Deluxe Editions: If you feel like you've heard everything, go back to the Beautifully Broken (Pickin' Up the Pieces) deluxe version. Tracks like "Take a Bow" with Halsey and "Devil Down" with Ernest are where he’s really experimenting.
- Follow the Collabs: In 2025, Jelly Roll is using other artists' albums to test out new sounds. His features with Shaboozey and Alex Warren are better indicators of his future sound than his old solo hits.
- Watch the Setlists: He’s been known to "test" songs at festivals like Stagecoach before they ever hit Spotify. If you see a grainy YouTube video of a new song from a 2025 show, pay attention—that’s usually the next single.
The bottom line? Jelly Roll isn't slowing down, but he is evolving. He’s trading the "hopelessness" for a "bold swing" at something more mature. Whether you're here for the radio hits or the deep-cut ballads, 2025 is proving to be the year he finally stops looking in the rearview mirror.