📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

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

entrepreneur daily
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.

Side Hustle

These Coworkers-Turned-Friends Started a Side Hustle on Amazon — Now It's a 'Full Hustle' Earning Over $20 Million a Year: 'Jump in With Both Feet'

Achal Patel and Russell Gong met at a large consulting firm and "bonded over a shared vision to create a mission-led company."

Business News

These Are the 10 Most Profitable Cities for Airbnb Hosts, According to a New Report

Here's where Airbnb property owners and hosts are making the most money.

Side Hustle

How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Successful Business

A hobby, interest or charity project can turn into a money-making business if you know the right steps to take.

Productivity

Want to Be More Productive? Here's How Google Executives Structure Their Schedules

These five tactics from inside Google will help you focus and protect your time.

Starting a Business

This Couple Turned Their Startup Into a $150 Million Food Delivery Company. Here's What They Did Early On to Make It Happen.

Selling only online to your customers has many perks. But the founders of Little Spoon want you to know four things if you want to see accelerated growth.