Jelly Roll promises Winnipeg fans he’ll pay their student loans

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This article was published 18/03/2025 (184 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two University of Manitoba students are singing the praises of Jelly Roll, after the country music artist offered to cover their student loans during a concert in Winnipeg.

Classmates Briana Knott and Deandra Courchene, who are both studying social work, watched the Grammy-nominated singer perform at the Canada Life Centre on Monday night. Standing near the stage, they carried fluorescent signs, asking him to help them pay their student loans.

“I am in disbelief right now,” Courchene said by phone on Tuesday, describing the moment the artist granted their wish. “It’s hard to wrap my head around what happened.”

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, spotted the women within five minutes of taking the stage. The pair were inspired to make the posters after watching videos of Jelly Roll interacting with fans at other events, she said, Courchene said.

“He pointed, and he was like, ‘I got you.’ We knew something was happening, we just didn’t know exactly what,” Courchene said.

Later in the show, the singer announced he would help out the students. A video, taken by Courchene and uploaded to social media, captured the moment.

“I’ll tell you what — you don’t got any student loans no more. I’m going to pay them off,” he said, amid roars from the audience.

“I went into shock basically. I was so nervous,” Courchene said. “I just thought, oh, my God. This is happening.”

The singer’s manager approached the students in the crowd and exchanged contact information with them.

The manager called Courchene on Tuesday to iron out the details. The terms of their agreement dictate the students must submit academic documentation and complete their programs, she said.

Courchene is set to graduate in the summer of 2026, with Knott’s graduation date anticipated the following year, Courchene said.

Courchene has approximately $42,000 in student loans and expects those to total more than $60,000 by the time her studies are finished, she said.

The mother of four, said she was driven to pursue social work after suffering hardships in her life.

“I was really starting to worry about paying that money back and now I don’t have to. I am just full with so much gratitude that I can just focus on giving back to my community and taking care of my kids,” Courchene said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca