
The 38-year-old Tennessee boy born Jason Bradley DeFord didn’t exactly have the easiest time in the first quarter of his life, dealing with addiction and going in and out of jail and juvenile hall (where he learned to make “ghetto dope,” a dip-like concoction consisting of crushed-up Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Slim Jims and water). Against all odds, he cleaned up, signed to a major label, and “Son of a Sinner,” a track from his album Ballads of the Broken, hit the first half of the Billboard Hot 100.
DeFord—who rolls into Tampa this weekend with fellow country singer Chase Rice, rapper Struggle Jennings, and comedian Josh Adam Meyers—has even offered a Vietnam veteran lifetime passes to all of his future shows. Talk about something Jason Aldean should try in a small town. Or any sized town, really.
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This article appears in Oct 5-11, 2023.


