To the Broken and the Bold: A Letter of Gratitude and Grit Inspired by Jelly Roll - By Ben Vasquez

Some people see a stage and hear music. I see a man who turned pain into purpose. Jelly Roll isn’t just a country rapper or a Nashville success story—he’s a symbol of hope for the forgotten, a voice for the voiceless, and someone I personally consider a hero.

His story hits different. A past filled with drugs, jail time, and darkness—a life many would have written off. But then, like a light piercing through the cracks, he made a choice. Not just once. Every. Single. Day. He got out. He cleaned up. Not only for himself, but for his daughter. And in doing so, he became a light for all of us who’ve felt broken, lost, or buried under the weight of our mistakes.

Jelly Roll reminds us that redemption isn’t a one-time act—it’s a daily decision. And that’s what hits me so hard. Because I live that same choice every day. I’ve battled addiction. I’ve stared down the darkness. I’ve laid awake at night fighting the spiral of “just one more fix.” The temptation to escape, to numb the stress, the anxiety, the pressure of running three businesses, providing for a family, and still trying to keep my own mind from breaking. It’s exhausting.

But I choose my people over the poison. I choose my purpose over the pain.

I recently told the story of how Relentless Empire was born—a vision that came from nothing and grew into something bigger than I ever could’ve imagined. But even greater than the success is the impact. The moment my daughter Kameron commented, telling me how proud she is of me, how much she loves me, how thankful she is to have me as her bonus dad—that made it all worth it. Her words healed something in me.

Then there’s the light in my 2 yr old daughters eyes when I walk through the door after a week with no days off. That little face reminds me of why I keep grinding. Why I keep choosing life, family, and purpose.

And my wife—my ride or die—she never lets me forget that what I’m doing matters. That love, vision, and commitment are enough to fight for. Even on the hardest days.

This post isn’t just for the addicts, though my heart will always have a place for us.

This is for anyone who’s ever felt unseen. Anyone who’s questioned if what they’re doing is worth it. Anyone who’s felt like giving up because life feels like too much. I’ve been there. Some days, I still am. But let me say this clearly:

It is worth it. You are worth it. And your light—no matter how dim it feels today—can still shine.

Jelly Roll, thank you. For your honesty. For your vulnerability. For showing the world that the broken can still be beautiful, that the fallen can still rise, and that even those cast aside have something powerful to offer. You gave us a voice when we didn’t know we had one.

You reminded us of something vital:

“One of the hardest things was learning that I was worth recovery.”
— Benjamin Alire Sáenz

We all deserve recovery. Redemption. A second chance. And sometimes, we just need someone like Jelly Roll to remind us.

So to everyone reading this—don’t give up. Don’t let the darkness win. Choose yourself, your people, your light. You’re not alone in the fight.

We’re still here. Still relentless.