Get All Access for $5/mo

Country Star Jelly Roll Sued By Local Band For Copyright Infringement, 'Harm' to Reputation The band Jellyroll has been around since the 1980s.

By Emily Rella

Taylor Hill/WireImage
Jelly Roll performs during the 2024 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 07, 2024 in Austin, Texas.

Country star Jelly Roll, 39, is having a banner year, but a lawsuit filed last week in Pennsylvania court claims that his past reputation is causing a local band "irreparable harm."

A wedding band based in Chadds Ford, Penn., a town just outside of Philadelphia, called "Jellyroll" is suing the country musician for trademark infringement and "unfair competition."

The band, which has been around since the 1980s, claims that it owns the trademark for the name and has sent Jelly Roll (the country singer) and his team a cease-and-desist letter to change his stage name.

Jelly Roll's team responded via email to discuss, according to the suit.

"Several conversations ensued and at one point Defendant's counsel inquired as to whether Defendant really was in competition with Plaintiff," the suit states.

But the conversations did not work out, and the 80s wedding band is claiming that Google search results about Jelly Roll's past are harming their business.

"Defendant's unapologetic continued infringing acts and conduct, unless enjoined by this Court, will continue to cause consumer confusion, mistake, and deception," the lawsuit, which was obtained by FOX Business, alleges. "Because of Defendant's troubled past, which includes a felony conviction and imprisonment, such association as averred above has caused additional harm to Plaintiff among the public and trade."

Jelly Roll was in and out of jail for 10 years starting at age 14 for a number of charges including aggravated robbery, drug possession and shoplifting.

It's noted in the lawsuit that Jelly Roll (the singer) has a space in his name while the band has their name as one word.

Related: Bon Jovi, Darius Rucker Warn About AI Tech in Music Industry

Jelly Roll began his path to country stardom in 2021 with his album "Ballads of the Broken," which gave the singer his first major hit with "Son of a Sinner." It peaked at No. 31 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Most notably, he won the 2023 CMA Award for New Artist of the Year after the success of his second album Whitsitt Chapel, which came out in 2023 and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart. In his acceptance speech, he delivered a powerful message that quickly went viral.

"I don't know where you're at in your life or what you're going through, but I want to tell you to keep going," he said. "I want to tell you, 'Success is on the other side.'"

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jelly Roll is worth an estimated $4 million.

Related: Twitter Sued by 17 Music Publishers Over Copyright Infringement

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Business News

Microsoft Reportedly Lays Off Over 1,500 Employees in Cloud Sector as Partnership with OpenAI Strengthens

Alphabet also reportedly laid off employees from several teams in Google's cloud unit last week.

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

Green Entrepreneur®

Why You Need a Contribution Mindset to Thrive in 2024 and Beyond

How to set yourself and your business up for long-term success.

Diversity

How to Implement Effective DEI Initiatives — A 4-Step Guide for Chief Diversity Officers

Crafting an effective DEI strategy is crucial for modern businesses due to its ethical and financial benefits. Here's how Chief Diversity Officers can successfully implement and optimize DEI initiatives.

Side Hustle

10 Online Side Hustles Proven to Boost Your Bank Account

Even the busiest schedules can accommodate finding a precious few hours to create a profitable online venture — something that many are already mastering.