\n<\/p>\n
\n\tJelly Roll<\/a> has received a pardon for his criminal record, according to the Associated Press<\/em><\/a>, with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signing off on the decision Thursday.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHis story is remarkable, Lee told reporters, \u201cand it\u2019s a redemptive, powerful story, which is what you look for and what you hope for.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tOn April 23, the Tennessee Board of Parole held a hearing<\/a> in Nashville to discuss whether or not the artist should be forgiven for decades-old drugs and robbery charges. After nearly two hours of discussion, the board voted unanimously in favor of a pardon.<\/p>\n \n\tLee had initially expressed tentative enthusiasm for the decision. \u201cThe reporting on Jelly Roll, that\u2019s encouraging for his situation, but there are steps yet to happen in that case,\u201d he commented, according to The Associated Press<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tJelly Roll said all he could do was hope. \u201cThis [news] was incredible,\u201d he commented. \u201cI pray this goes through. But today was special for me, regardless.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe artist, whose real name is Jason DeFord, was hoping for a pardon not just for a sense of personal gratification but to boost the whole Jelly Roll business. The criminal record has been preventing the artist from international touring other than Canada. At the hearing, DeFord told the Board that touring requires \u201ca team of lawyers and a mountain of paperwork to secure my entry into those countries.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe artist had begun petitioning the Board of Parole last October, the fifth anniversary of when his last sentence expired.<\/p>\n