At one time, Jelly Roll likely never could have imagined the life he has now. The singer-songwriter spent time in prison, both as a juvenile and adult, before turning his life around, and pursuing his biggest passion: music. The rapper-turned-country-singer just celebrated a No. 1 hit with “Son of a Sinner,” and is back at radio with “Need a Favor,” both from his forthcoming debut album

“I’m working on my album right now,” Jelly Roll told Audacy’s Rob + Holly. “I didn’t want to come back to country radio with another sad, slow song. So I came back with a sad, mid-tempo song.”

Jelly Roll thought long and hard about which song was best fo follow “Son of a Sinner,” before landing on “Need a Favor” as his next single.

“I love this song,” Jelly Roll says. “This song for me was about speaking to the core of what I do, but doing it in a different way.”

Fortunately, Jelly Roll fans won’t have to wait too long for a full project from him. The 38-year-old is hoping to have his new record come out in the first half of 2023.

“I got a country album coming in April or May. I’m all in. I’m here for the long haul. [In] 2022 I climbed the mountain of country music,” Jelly Roll said. “2023, I’m gonna plant the flag to show y’all I’m here… Let me claim a little space.”

Jelly Roll enjoys writing his own music, not only for his career, but for his mental health as well.

“Songwriting for me is me versus me,” he says. “It’s where I sit alone in my thoughts for hours at at time, and that’s not a safe place for me. It never has been. So songwriting helps me get through it.”

Jelly Roll has more plans in 2023 besides new music. The Nashville native reveals he is also focusing on his health this year as well.

“I’m going to spend the first couple months of the year just focusing on family and health,” Jelly Roll told Music Mayhem. “I lost some weight this year in 2022, but in 2023 I wanna finally conquer the demon. I don’t leave for a big tour until about the middle of the year. So I plan on taking the first half of the year to tighten the album up and get some work in.”

All of Jelly Roll’s music and tour updates can be found by visiting his website.