Jelly Roll says severe illness, isolation and a tense Sydney Louis Vuitton encounter left him struggling mentally during his Australia tour.
Jelly Roll revealed he hit one of the lowest points in years during the Australia leg of his recent international tour, describing a difficult combination of physical illness, mental strain and intense loneliness while thousands of miles from home.
The 40-year-old country star, born Jason Bradley DeFord, spoke candidly on the “No Filter with Kate Langbroek” podcast, explaining that the long-distance travel and nonstop performance schedule took a toll on his overall well-being. He admitted that while he anticipated challenges during his debut run in Australia, the emotional impact was far stronger than expected.
“I’m falling apart. It’s a horrible week. I’m doing the worst mentally I’ve done in a long time,” he said, adding that the isolation and distance from his support system made everything feel heavier. “I’m really far from home, and it’s really hitting me … I’m not having fun, and I want to go home.”
Jelly Roll performed six shows across Australia from October 25 to November 4, before a scheduled final performance in Auckland, New Zealand, on November 8. However, he canceled the Auckland show at the last minute due to illness—an uncommon move for the musician, who rarely misses performances.
He explained that his sickness quickly worsened his mental state. “The trip has f—ed my stomach up,” he said, noting that physical discomfort made everything more difficult. “When my stomach’s not right, nothing’s right. My mind’s not right… I’m just not thinking clear.”
The lack of tour buses in Australia also contributed to his sense of isolation. He said he spent unusually long stretches of time alone in hotel rooms, which amplified his anxiety and homesickness. “I’m having to be super isolated. I don’t like it… I miss my family a ton,” he shared, adding that he relied on breathing exercises to stay grounded while fighting the urge to return to Tennessee.
His taxing tour coincided with another stressful moment abroad. Jelly Roll recently claimed that employees at a Louis Vuitton store in Sydney treated him “like a criminal” during a shopping trip. In a video posted to social media, he said staff looked at him as if he intended to “rob” the store. “I have never been looked at more like a crim,” he said.
The Grammy-nominated artist has long been open about his troubled past, including legal issues and addiction struggles. At 16, he was arrested and charged as an adult with aggravated robbery and possession with intent to sell, leading to more than a year in jail followed by seven years of probation.
