Jelly Roll would change a lot of things about his life. Now one of country music’s biggest superstars, the 40-year-old wishes he could rewind time, if only to reassure his younger self about his future.

“I would tell my younger self that it’s a blip on the radar right now,” Jelly Roll tells Nashville Lifestyles. “Don’t overthink it. You’re just in a very small season of your life. I would tell my 30-year-old self that, not even just my 12-year- old self. I would go back and tell 33-year-old Jason, ‘Just relax. You’re not going to conquer the world today; take your time.That would be my biggest message: remain hopeful.”

In many ways, Jelly Roll is a much different man than he used to be, including physically. The Nashville native has lost 140 pounds, and vows to keep going, with a goal of being on the cover of Men’s Health in 2026.

“I’ve lost 100 lbs. [in 2024] and I’m going to lose another 100 this year,” Jelly Roll says. “I’m really going to focus on a big transformation. There was a big change that happened in my heart over the years, multiple changes, but my body hadn’t caught up to the change in my heart yet, and it’s catching up. Once I look like the change that people know has happened, I expect the message to be more received. That’s the goal.”

No one is more surprised than Jelly Roll at how his life has transpired. Starting as a rapper, Jelly Roll always felt a deep affinity to country music, never imagining he would one day be part of the genre.

“I think maybe I was always writing country songs; I was just rapping them,” Jelly Roll says. “If you think about three chords and the truth and just telling the story of the average American, I think that’s kind of what I was always doing. I might have started singing way sooner if I would have known I could sing.

“I still have moments now where I’m like, ‘Damn, I can sing,'” he adds. “I’m still realizing it and I’m excited.”

Jelly Roll just celebrated another No. 1 hit, with “Liar.” He also joins gospel singer Brandon Lake on “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

“This is so hard to talk about, ’cause I’ve been called lukewarm, a fence-rider,” Jelly Roll says in a conversation with Lake, shared on social media. “I’ve been called a cussing Christian. I’ve had all these people … and I know that God’s got a lot more to do with me. I know that. I know I’ve got a long way to go. And I know that my heart was only to share the faith that changed my life. I might wear it a little different than other people. I might say things that other Christians don’t say. But ultimately, I have a heart for God, and I have a heart for Jesus.

“You were thinking so dangerously outside of the box,” he tells Lake. “Even with me. You could have called anybody else to this town, and something a little less controversial. Thank you brother, for picking me.”

Find all of Jelly Roll’s music and upcoming shows at JellyRoll615.com.