Jelly roll couldn’t be more proud of the man he has become, although it was certainly hard work.

It’s been a transformation in recent years for the “I Am Not Okay” singer, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, and who, before becoming the beloved country artist he is today, spent years in and out of prison and with both struggled. with addiction and his mental health.

Today, he has not only overcome that, but is also open about his past and what it took to grow past it, because he believes vulnerability has been crucial to his growth.

During a performance op The Kelly Clarkson Show on Wednesday, October 16, Jelly Roll talked about growing out of his previous “angry” personality.

“Vulnerability is kind of my superpower,” he said, before explaining, “I was a typically angry, aggressive, alpha-type male for a long time, and I always had an almost mean spirit, and it was that way.” it serves me no good.”

He continued, “I had no emotions, I was very flat with everyone and life,” but noted, “Then my heart changed, man.”

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The rapper has several key figures to thank for this: God, his wife, Alyssa “Bunnie XO” DeFordwhom he married in 2016, and his daughter Bailee Ann, born from a previous relationship.

“I had a relationship with God, I had a child, I married a woman who is simply the best woman on the planet and it immediately softened my heart and vulnerability,” Jelly Roll said.

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He also candidly said, “Everyone says, ‘You’re the sweetest guy ever,’ and I said, I’m glad you didn’t know me in the early 2000s.”

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Host Kelly Clarkson was quick to praise him, noting, “I think this is an important message because I think a lot of people don’t believe in change, and I think it’s very real. If someone wants it, I think that’s a is a very real message.” what can really happen,” to which he insisted, “I think it also signals to people that you can do it at any age.”

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Further reflecting on how he overcame his addiction and mental health issues, he shared, “It takes a lot of work. I think one of the biggest things was that I started being honest and being more vulnerable, and the first step was: I know that it’s going to sound like a promotion for a song, but it was actually (when I) sang, maybe it’s okay that I’m not okay,” referring to his song “I Am Not Okay.”

He also said that a lot of therapy and losing weight certainly contributed to this. “I realized that it wasn’t just what I was putting into my body food-wise that was killing me, it was what I listened to and what I watched, where I didn’t allow my thoughts to sit and live.”