Jelly Roll’s Wife Bunnie XO Details Her Growth After 7 Arrests

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Bunnie XO isn’t running from her past.

Bunnie XO, host of the Dumb Blonde podcast and wife of Jelly Roll, recently opened up about her life experiences. She shared photos of her mugshots, revealing she’d been arrested seven times, starting when she was only 19 years old.

Bunnie shared on Instagram November 4th that looking back at old photos was shocking. She said the pictures show a clear progression of sadness and emotional distress, and that even when she was smiling, it was a sign of how detached she felt from her own feelings.

Alisa DeFord, 45, said her legal problems lasted for years because she continued to battle with substance abuse.

I remember hearing her talk about a really tough time in her life, when she was twenty-six. She was arrested for something that happened on a casino floor – apparently, she ended up interacting with an undercover officer. She explained it all stemmed from a deep struggle with addiction; she was just trying to survive, and honestly, she felt like a victim a lot of the time. It was a really awful combination of things that led to that point.

Bunnie eventually realized she needed to change her own behavior. She explained that she’d become unhappy with the person she was and understood she needed to take responsibility, admitting she was both the cause of her problems and the one who needed to fix them.

Bunnie has transformed her life, but she’s not embarrassed by her old mugshots. In fact, she’s using them to promote her new memoir, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic. She says the photos are a reminder of where she’s been and how much she’s grown thanks to faith and self-acceptance.

Bunnie’s honest post deeply affected her husband, Jason DeFord. He shared that her words inspired him to focus on his own personal growth.

Jelly Roll, 40, shared a heartfelt message on Bunnie’s social media post, saying he wouldn’t be who he is today without her. He explained that her life story motivated him, and he always looked up to her. He’s excited for the world to learn about her strength and witness the power of faith.

For more on Bunnie and Jelly Roll’s relationship, keep reading.

Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll’s relationship started in Las Vegas. Bunnie shared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast that she first met the singer in August 2015 while he was performing at the Las Vegas Country Saloon – before he became famous. He was living in a van at the time, and the show had only about 20 people in the audience.

Despite the unlikely setting, they immediately felt a connection. Bunnie described it as an instant soulmate experience, even though they didn’t seem like a typical couple – he’s a big fan of Taylor Swift, which isn’t usually her type.

However, a romance didn’t begin immediately. Bunnie was in an unhealthy relationship, and Jelly Roll was focused on his own life. They reconnected in October 2015, and Bunnie quickly fell for him.

After Bunnie’s ex-partner went to prison, she asked a friend to give Jelly Roll her number. He started calling and texting her for advice about his daughter, Bailee.

Their connection turned romantic in July 2016 when Jelly Roll returned to Vegas to film videos and they spent the night together. Bunnie recalled a funny moment where, despite being very drunk, he asked her about her five-year plan. After discussing their goals, they decided to pursue a relationship.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll followed through on their plans quickly. They got married a month after they first discussed it, in August 2016 at a Las Vegas wedding chapel. Bunnie shared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast that they even completed a five-year plan they’d made, with buying a house as the final step.

Bunnie also had her own goals, including starting a podcast. Jelly Roll explained on The Howard Stern Show that when Bunnie left the sex work industry in 2019, he asked her what she was passionate about, and she said she wanted to host a talk show. She later debuted the Dumb Blonde podcast that same year.

Bunnie used money she earned to support Jelly Roll’s career. She invested in his 2017 album, Addiction Kills, and helped him with legal matters related to gaining custody of his daughter, as she shared on Sofia with an F.

Jelly Roll’s daughter, Bailee, was born in 2008 while he was in prison for drug dealing. He credits Bailee with saving his life, even though she was very young at the time. Bailee remembers her father entering her life around age two, when he was starting his music career and living in a van. While he admits he wasn’t always there for her, he fought for full custody when her mother struggled with addiction.

Despite being early in their relationship, Jelly Roll’s now-wife, Bunnie, supported him financially by paying for a lawyer to help him gain custody. This led both of them to re-examine their own lives. Bunnie questioned whether they were fit to raise Bailee given their own struggles with substance abuse, and decided to get sober.

Bunnie also embraced a maternal role, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be a mother figure to Bailee. For Bailee’s sixteenth birthday in 2024, Bunnie thanked Jelly Roll for allowing her to be the mom she never had, and Bailee for teaching her valuable life lessons over the past eight years.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie welcomed their son, Noah, around a week before their wedding in August 2016, while Jelly Roll was also navigating a custody battle for his daughter, Bailee. He shared his hopes for Noah on Facebook, writing, “God Bless this Child to be everything I am not!” and expressing his desire for Noah and Bailee to avoid repeating his mistakes.

Over the years, Jelly Roll and Bunnie have generally kept Noah’s life private, but occasionally share small updates. In July 2023, Bunnie posted a TikTok featuring Noah, asking him about his favorite things like soccer and playing at the beach. She emphasized that she got permission from Noah’s mother before sharing the video.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll have a positive relationship with Noah’s mother, with Bunnie describing her as a wonderful person and expressing gratitude for her help with Noah, especially while Jelly Roll is touring. Bunnie cherishes her role as Noah’s stepmother, sharing on Instagram in October 2024 that watching him grow up is a joy and a privilege, and she’s thankful to be a part of his life since birth.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie separated in 2018, two years after getting married. Jelly Roll later admitted to infidelity as the cause of their split, calling it a low point in his life. However, they worked through the issues and rekindled their relationship later that year. He said the process of rebuilding their trust made them stronger than ever, and while he regrets the affair, he’s proud of where they are today. Bunnie shared on TikTok in 2023 that their breakup and eventual reconciliation – with her traveling to bring him back to Vegas – led them on an incredible journey. She explained that their relationship needed to fall apart so they could build a stronger foundation, and reaffirmed her love for him.

As Jelly Roll’s popularity grew, he and Bunnie made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2022 CMA Awards. In the documentary Jelly Roll: Save Me, Bunnie described them as “the Addams Family of the country era,” explaining that they felt like outsiders in the country music world, but were determined to be a part of it.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie celebrated seven years of marriage in 2023 by renewing their vows. Bunnie remembered their original wedding day, recalling how Jelly Roll reassured her that things would get better and they would overcome the challenges they faced. He kept that promise.

Bunnie reflected on the past seven years as a difficult but rewarding journey. They worked hard to heal from past traumas, learn to love healthily, and build a stable home for Bailee, their daughter. Through everything, they faced challenges together with unwavering support and positivity.

Bunnie expressed her deep love and admiration for Jelly Roll, calling him her soulmate, safe haven, and best friend. She believes he’s truly one of a kind.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie continue to have a loving relationship, and she’s even been the inspiration behind some of his songs, like “Woman” and “Kill a Man.” He told Entertainment Tonight that she’s “the best,” and he struggled to write a genuine love song without sounding cheesy. He wanted to express how deeply he feels for her while still being true to himself. He says he doesn’t have eyes for anyone else and wanted a song to reflect that vulnerability. The couple also appeared together in the music videos for “Wheels Fall Off” and “Lonely Road,” which featured Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox.

Bunnie is Jelly Roll’s biggest fan, always supporting him whether she’s at his shows or watching from home. She publicly praised him ahead of the 2024 CMT Music Awards, highlighting that his success wasn’t sudden – it was the result of twenty years of hard work. She described a journey filled with both quiet struggles and now, packed arenas.

Bunnie shared how she’s witnessed Jelly Roll pour his heart into songwriting, creating music that deeply resonates with those who are hurting. She believes his songs offer comfort and understanding, reaching into people’s souls and making them feel seen.

Their strong relationship is inspiring to fans. Bunnie affectionately calls Jelly Roll ‘Papabear’ and says his voice has a healing power, with the world acting as his choir. She expresses her unwavering love for him, not just in this life but in any future one.

Jelly Roll is equally supportive of Bunnie, celebrating her success building a following on social media and with her podcast. He’s incredibly proud of how she inspires others, especially women, and it fills him with joy.

Bunnie Xo is fiercely protective of her husband, Jelly Roll, and won’t tolerate anyone attacking him. She recently spoke out about the hurtful comments he received online regarding his weight before losing over 200 pounds, explaining that he was forced to step away from the internet due to the bullying. While Jelly Roll tries to hide his pain, Bunnie says the comments deeply affect him. She strongly objects to the idea that celebrities should simply ‘handle’ online abuse, emphasizing that it’s never okay to bully someone, as you don’t know what they’re going through mentally. Bunnie vowed to defend those who are targeted and promised to fight back against anyone who tries to bully her or her family.

Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie, have been publicly sharing their journey to expand their family. After Jelly Roll mentioned they were considering having a baby, Bunnie revealed they’ve been undergoing IVF treatments. In a June 2024 Instagram post, she explained they decided to share their story because of their openness with fans, and because the process has already been challenging. Despite the difficulties, they remain optimistic about adding to their family, which already includes their children, Bailee and Noah. They’ve been consulting with IVF doctors and exploring all available options. Bunnie also discussed considering surrogacy on her podcast, Dumb Blonde, in March 2025, explaining it’s due to medical risks associated with her carrying a child herself.

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2025-11-05 19:48