Who Is Felicia Beckwith? Meet the Mother of Country Star Jelly Roll's Teenage Daughter

Felicia Beckwith is the mother of Jelly Roll's daughter, Bailee Ann. From addiction and heartbreak to healing and relapse, her story is a deeply personal one that offers a raw look at the realities of motherhood, substance abuse, and recovery.

Jelly Roll may be known today for his soul-baring lyrics and genre-defying success, but long before the fame, his life was marked by addiction, incarceration, and uncertainty.

In 2008, the Nashville native learned that Felicia Beckwith — a woman he'd been involved with — had given birth to their daughter. That moment would become a catalyst for Jelly Roll's transformation, but for Felicia, it marked the start of a turbulent journey and a complex story.

Before Jelly Roll became one of country music's most compelling stars, he was far from the spotlight — sitting behind bars and reflecting on the life he'd lived. Born Jason DeFord, at 23, he was incarcerated for drug dealing.

Born while her father was incarcerated, Bailee was raised by her mother during some of the most chaotic years of her life.

Having "all but gave up," he admitted, "I was like, 'I'm going to die in prison or young.'" But everything changed on May 22, 2008, the day a prison guard knocked on his cell door and delivered news that shifted his entire trajectory — "You had a kid today.”

That child was Bailee Ann. Jelly Roll had known Felicia was pregnant when he was arrested, but the idea of becoming a father felt like just another burden in a life full of bad decisions. He recalled:

"I was just irritated by it. Like, 'I've really [expletive] up now.'"

Nonetheless, it turned out to be a pivotal moment that the musician later described as his personal "road to Damascus." Bailee's birth lit a fire in him.

"I've never had nothing in life that urged me in the moment to know that I had to do something different. I have to figure this out right now," the country star revealed.

Felicia Beckwith – Raising Bailee Amid Struggles and Survival

In 2024, Bailee opened up about her early life on her stepmother Bunnie XO's podcast, sharing a rare glimpse into her upbringing with Felicia. Born while her father was incarcerated, Bailee was raised by her mother during some of the most chaotic years of her life.

"Felicia was doing her own thing," Bailee recalled, explaining that her mother was living with her parents and in a relationship with a person named Cheyenne, who had been around since before her birth.

Although the early years were mostly a blur, Bailee described how things started to deteriorate around kindergarten. "Addiction and stuff" took over. By first grade, their world had unraveled.

Bailee described the house they lived in as "nightmares." At just seven years old, she found herself acting as the caretaker for her two younger cousins. "I was literally raising these two children," she said.

Despite years of chaos, Felicia found her way back.

Bunnie recounted the heartbreaking scene when she first visited the house with Jelly Roll. Bailee was standing on a stool, cooking for the kids while the house was in complete disarray. "Bailee had no bed. She was sleeping in a chair," Bunnie recalled.

Sadly, Felicia's addiction had reached a devastating level. "It wasn't like they were just popping a pill here and there," Bunnie emphasized. "God, it was terrible."

It had gotten so bad that basic utilities were frequently shut off as money was diverted toward drugs. "The lights kept going out, and the water kept going out," Bailee confessed.

Felicia Beckwith's Sobriety Journey and Rebuilding the Bond

Despite years of chaos, Felicia found her way back. In 2020, Jelly Roll shared an emotional post on Facebook celebrating her sobriety. Alongside a family photo featuring him, Bunnie, Felicia, and Bailee, he wrote:

"I've wrote a lot of songs about the pain of addiction. I've experience first hand the impact an addiction can have on a family. You've probably heard me openly write songs of pain, anger, frustration and sadness about Bailee's Mother [sic."

"Her mother Felicia has been battling a deep rooting drug addiction in and out of jail - 16 months ago Felicia (bailee's mother) got sober in jail. She has a CRAZY story—in the picture above is Felicia coming back into Bailee's life [sic]," the post continued.

"It makes my whole family happy to see her battle her way out of the pits of addiction and since I had no problem publicizing her problems and my frustration of it we have no problem celebrating her recovery - feels good to have her back to the normal Felicia we all know and love [sic]," the country star added.

Felicia had entered RCI, a sober living facility in Middle Tennessee, and reemerged in Bailee's life in May 2020. "She popped up two days before my 12th birthday," Bailee recalled. "And I was like, 'Cool, whatever."

From there, mother and daughter began rebuilding their relationship. For Bailee, the transformation was real. "She was really stepping up to the plate...She was doing the mom thing. It was pretty cool," Bunnie shared.

Sadly, Felicia's story took an unfortunate turn in early 2025.

Jelly Roll and his wife, who had custody of Bailee for four years, supported the reunification. "We always try to let it just be natural," Bunnie said on the podcast. "You guys were healing together."

As Felicia continued her recovery journey, the bond between her and Bailee seemed to grow stronger. In August 2021, she posted a sweet message on Instagram, "Missing this little psycho today!! 💜💜 Come home already!! @baileeannnnn," to which Bailee replied, "Miss you too mama coming home to u soon 😍."

By February 2022, the two had taken a trip to Disney, marking another milestone in their mended relationship. Felicia captioned the post, "What a weekend!!! Grateful beyond measure!! 💜💜" These glimpses showed a mother trying to make up for lost time, and a daughter open to healing and reconnecting.

Felicia Beckwith – A Painful Setback

Sadly, Felicia's story took an unfortunate turn in early 2025. She was arrested in Washington County, Tennessee, after a major drug bust involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms.

The sheriff's office seized 343 grams of meth, 12 grams of fentanyl, additional unknown substances, four handguns, $1,200 in cash, and drug paraphernalia.

Felicia, now 36, was charged with multiple felonies, including manufacture, delivery, and possession of methamphetamine, along with Schedule II drug violations, and unlawful drug paraphernalia. Her name once again made headlines — not as a mother celebrating recovery, but as a woman facing serious legal consequences.

The story of Felicia Beckwith is one marked by highs and devastating lows. From giving birth to Bailee while Jelly Roll was incarcerated, to battling addiction, finding sobriety, and working to repair her relationship with her daughter but sadly experiencing a setback, her journey has been anything but linear.