Award-winning musician and global entertainer Jelly Roll is set to deliver a keynote speech and receive the prestigious Global Literacy Award at the 2025 World Literacy Summit on Tuesday April 8th. The event will take place at the historic Sheldonian Theatre at the University of Oxford and will highlight the singer's contributions to literacy and education advocacy, particularly for justice-impacted youth. His keynote will be livestreamed for a global audience.
Born Jason DeFord in Nashville, Jelly Roll’s rise to international acclaim has been marked by more than 50 award nominations and wins over the past two years. His path to success, however, began with significant challenges. First incarcerated at the age of 15, he has since become a leading voice in advocating for education and foundational literacy among young offenders, both in the U.S. and abroad.
The Global Literacy Award recognizes Jelly Roll’s influence in promoting literacy through educational outreach, songwriting workshops, and justice system programs that offer access to GED certification, trade training, and continued education. During his keynote and Q&A session at the summit, he will reflect on his own journey — from earning his GED while incarcerated to creating opportunities for others facing similar challenges.
Representatives from the World Bank, HarperCollins, and Penguin Books will be in attendance to recognize his work and celebrate his commitment to creating inclusive pathways to learning.
Jelly Roll’s music career continues to soar with multiple international number-one hits including ‘Liar,' ‘Need A Favor,' ‘I Am Not Okay' and ‘Save Me.' His latest album Beautifully Broken' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 All-Genre Chart and earned widespread critical acclaim from outlets including Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR, and the Associated Press. He also appeared as a musical guest on the 50th anniversary season premiere of Saturday Night Live.
His breakout 2023 album ‘Whitsitt Chapel' set a Billboard record for the biggest country debut in chart history. He has since collected major accolades at the CMT Music Awards, CMA Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and the iHeartRadio Awards, and earned four GRAMMY nominations in the past two years. In 2025, he is nominated for three ACM Awards, including Entertainer of the Year.
As he prepares to hit the road with Post Malone on the BIG ASS STADIUM TOUR and BIG ASS WORLD TOUR, Jelly Roll recently earned his seventh number one at country radio with “Liar,” adding to a string of chart-topping hits including ‘Halfway To Hell,' ‘Save Me' and ‘Son of A Sinner.' His latest single ‘Heart of Stone' is currently climbing the country charts.
