Jelly Roll’s Heartfelt Mother’s Day Gesture Touches Hearts at 35,000 Feet
May 13, 2025 – Nashville, TN – Mother’s Day is a time to honor the love, sacrifice, and resilience of mothers everywhere, and country music star Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord, made this year’s celebration unforgettable for passengers on a cross-country flight. On May 11, 2025, aboard a Nashville-to-Los Angeles flight, the “Son of a Sinner” singer orchestrated a touching tribute, asking flight attendants to distribute flowers to every mother on board. The gesture, rooted in his deep appreciation for his own mother and wife, left passengers and crew in tears and sparked a viral wave of admiration across social media.
Jelly Roll, a Grammy-nominated artist known for his raw, soulful lyrics, was traveling with his wife, Bunnie XO, and daughter, Bailee Ann, to a promotional event for his album Beautifully Broken. According to passengers, mid-flight, Jelly Roll quietly approached the cabin crew with a request: could they help him surprise the mothers on board? With the crew’s enthusiastic support, he purchased dozens of roses from an onboard gift service, ensuring each mother received a flower along with a heartfelt note reading, “Thank you for all you do. Happy Mother’s Day – Jelly Roll.” The moment was captured in a TikTok video by passenger Sarah Mitchell, which has since garnered over 3 million views.
The story behind Jelly Roll’s gesture is deeply personal. Raised in Antioch, Tennessee, by his mother, Donna DeFord, who battled anxiety, depression, and addiction, Jelly Roll credits her love for music with shaping his career. “My mama showed me how music could heal,” he shared in a 2024 interview with TODAY. His wife, Bunnie XO, has also been a pivotal figure, stepping up as a devoted stepmother to Bailee Ann and supporting Jelly Roll through his turbulent past, including years of incarceration and addiction. In a 2020 Facebook post, he praised Bunnie’s “beautiful mother-daughter bond” with Bailee, calling her “the epitome of a good mom.”
On the flight, Jelly Roll took to the intercom to share his inspiration. “I grew up watching my mama struggle, but she always found a way to show love,” he said, his voice cracking. “And my wife, Bunnie, has been a rock for our family. This is for every mom here who keeps it together, no matter what.” Passengers reported that the cabin erupted in applause, with many mothers visibly moved. Flight attendant Lisa Carter told People, “I’ve worked 15 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. He didn’t just give flowers; he gave everyone a moment to feel seen.”
The gesture resonates with Jelly Roll’s history of giving back. In 2024, he testified before Congress on anti-fentanyl legislation, drawing from his own experiences with addiction. His 2023 Mother’s Day gift to Bunnie—a 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor—made headlines, but this airborne tribute was on another level. Fans on X called it “the ultimate Jelly Roll move,” with one user posting, “This man’s heart is as big as his voice.”
As Mother’s Day traditions evolve, Jelly Roll’s act reminds us of the power of small gestures. Flowers, long a symbol of love and gratitude, carried extra weight at 35,000 feet, thanks to a man who knows the sacrifices of motherhood firsthand. For the mothers on that flight, it was a Mother’s Day they’ll never forget.