Jelly Roll's Divine Encounter at the Vatican: From Rock Bottom to Holy Ground

In a moment resonating with personal triumph, musician Jelly Roll marked a significant milestone, reflecting on his journey following an encounter with Pope Leo XIV.

The 40-year-old artist behind hits like “Need a Favor” took to Instagram on Saturday, September 13, to share a poignant photograph of himself shaking hands with the pontiff, captioning it with a powerful declaration: “From rock bottom to holy ground.”

The artist, born Jason Bradley DeFord, further underscored the spiritual significance of the occasion by citing the biblical verse Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

This remarkable encounter, bringing together the acclaimed “Son of a Sinner” rapper and the esteemed head of the Catholic Church, preceded the star-studded Grace for the World concert held at Vatican City's iconic St. Peter’s Square on Saturday. Jelly Roll graced the stage as one of the distinguished performers, alongside an impressive roster including Pharrell Williams, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, and Karol G.

Jelly Roll Reflects on Past Struggles: Separation from Daughter Post-Incarceration

Jelly Roll's fleeting visit to Vatican City concluded an exceptionally demanding week, which saw him sharing the stage remotely with his close confidant and tour companion, Post Malone, at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, broadcasting live via satellite from Hanover, Germany, on September 7.

Remarkably, he seamlessly integrated his appearance at the Grace for the World concert amidst his bustling schedule, performing between engagements in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday, September 12, and Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday, September 14, as a co-headliner for Post Malone’s expansive Big Ass Stadium Tour. The dynamic pair is set to culminate a packed month with two final performances at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 20 and 21.

Following the conclusion of Post Malone’s Big Ass Stadium Tour, Jelly Roll is slated to embark on his highly anticipated Australian tour, commencing at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondall on October 24. His Down Under ‘25 Tour will span through early November, before he travels to Mexico City for his ultimate 2025 performance on November 15.

In other news, Bunnie Xo, Jelly Roll’s wife, recently shed light on ongoing speculation surrounding her marriage, prompted by fans observing their absence from public appearances together for several months.

Addressing the rumors on her “Dumb Blonde” podcast in August, the 45-year-old Bunnie recounted, “Someone said the other day, ‘They used to always be together, and now you never see them together.’” She then posed the rhetorical question, “I’m like, ‘Do you guys not know that for the past six months [that] I’ve been trying to make a baby?’”

She emphatically stated, “My husband has to work to fing bring home the bacon. Luckily, I get the luxury of working from home. He doesn’t. He has to make appearances, but I literally have been on IVF meds for fing six months and going through heartbreak and fing so much s.”

“That’s why you haven’t seen me [because] mama’s about to pop out,” she further explained. “I gotta remind them. I might even do a sexy photoshoot and piss off all the fing [haters].”

Also that August, Bunnie Xo, whose birth name is Alyssa DeFord, tenderly acknowledged her husband’s impressive recent 200-pound weight loss in a TikTok video, playfully “body-slamming” the singer during a lighthearted exchange.

“When you have to check and make sure he’s still your squish after all the weight loss,” she humorously captioned.