Jelly Roll Looks So Different After Shaving Off His Beard

After baring his soul about his weight loss journey, Jelly Roll was ready to bare his face.

Rapper Jason Bradley DeFord, known professionally as Jason Bradley DeFord, recently shaved off his beard after growing it for more than ten years, resulting in a dramatically different appearance.

TK DETAILS/DESCRIPTION ABOUT HIS NEW LOOK

I’ve been following Jelly Roll’s journey for a while now, and it’s been amazing to see his growth! His wife, Bunnie Xo – Alyssa DeFord is her real name – has been so sweet to share everything, including documenting his facial hair transformation on social media. It’s cool to see how supportive they are of each other and how open they are with fans.

Bunnie, who married the singer in 2016, recently shared in an Instagram video that she’s never seen her husband without a beard or mustache. She explained that, like many women, she worries about being deceived by someone hiding their true appearance.

The host of the Dumb Blonde podcast said he decided to shave his beard because of his significant weight loss – he’s lost 180 pounds.

My husband is shaving off his beard to celebrate a photoshoot he did today. He’s gotten really fit, and we want to show off his strong jawline! I think you ladies will agree it looks amazing.

After baring his soul about his weight loss journey, Jelly Roll is ready to bare his face.

The singer, whose full name is Jason Bradley DeFord, recently shaved off his beard – a beard he’d had for more than ten years! The change is so dramatic, he looks almost like a different person.

Let’s be real, sometimes we use style to work with our bodies, not against them. I recently shared that I jokingly said I looked like a ninja turtle – and it got me thinking about why I grew a beard in the first place. Honestly? It was a practical solution. When I was carrying more weight, a beard was an easy way to balance out my features and feel a little more confident. It’s all about finding what works for you and embracing the journey, right?

Okay, so Jelly Roll just DROPPED a video, and let me tell you, he looks AMAZING! He was totally rocking a clean-shaven face with a black hoodie and a baseball cap while he was outside, and he was just so humble and thankful about his Grammy nominations. Seriously, I’m losing it! He deserves all the awards!

He said, trying to hold back tears, “Winning Country Album of the Year is incredible! No matter what, we did it!”

Before Jelly Roll became famous, his wife, Bunnie Xo (also known as Alyssa DeFord), shared updates on social media about his changing facial hair – specifically, his journey growing a beard.

Bunnie, who’s been married to the singer since 2016, shared in an Instagram video on November 13th that she’s never seen her husband without a beard or mustache. She explained that, like many women, she worries about being deceived by someone hiding their true appearance.

The host of the Dumb Blonde podcast explained that he decided to shave his beard because of his significant 180-pound weight loss.

My husband is shaving off his beard to celebrate a photoshoot he did today. He’s gotten really fit, and we want to show off his strong jawline! It looks amazing, doesn’t it?

Next thing she knew, her husband had a “cop ‘stache,” which she declared was “fire.”

Bunnie said, “You look great!” She complimented his goatee and mustache, saying they looked really good, and added that even without anything else, his bare face wasn’t bad either.”

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following Jelly Roll’s journey, and I’m really impressed by his recent transformation! He’s been incredibly honest about the challenges he’s faced with his weight, and it’s amazing to see how dedicated he’s been to a full body makeover. It’s inspiring to witness someone be so open about their health journey!

In 2015, I weighed over 500 pounds – the doctor’s scale couldn’t even measure my exact weight. They actually suggested I go to a place that weighs livestock or trucks to find out! It was a really embarrassing experience.

He explained that he’s struggled with obesity since childhood. He said he’s always been overweight and it’s made him deeply unhappy. He dreams of being able to enjoy active experiences like skydiving, bungee jumping, and riding roller coasters, and ultimately wants to live a full life with a healthy relationship with food.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been noticing all the buzz about Jelly Roll’s recent weight loss, and it’s fantastic he’s prioritizing his health! But honestly, Bunnie Xo really hit the nail on the head – what truly matters is remembering what’s most important in life, and that’s far beyond just appearances.

She shared in a TikTok video on September 28th that his core personality hasn’t changed. She added that he seems much healthier since losing weight.

Next thing she knew, her husband had a “cop ‘stache,” which she declared was “fire.”

Bunnie told him, “You look really good! That goatee and mustache are amazing, and even without any makeup, you still look great.”

Jelly Roll has undergone a significant physical transformation, losing over 180 pounds in the last three years. He’s been candid about the challenges he’s faced in his journey to a healthier weight.

Back in 2015, I weighed over 500 pounds – the doctor’s scale couldn’t even measure any higher! They actually suggested I go to a meat processing plant or a truck stop to find out my true weight, which was incredibly embarrassing.

He explained that he’s struggled with obesity since childhood. He’s always been overweight, and it’s made him deeply unhappy. He dreams of being able to enjoy active experiences like skydiving, bungee jumping, and riding a bull, and simply wants to live a full life with a healthy relationship to food.

Although people have been praising Jelly Roll’s recent weight loss, Bunnie Xo emphasized that what truly matters is something else.

In a TikTok video posted on September 28th, she said he hasn’t changed as a person. ‘He’s always been the same at heart,’ she explained, adding that he seems much healthier since losing weight.

Speaking of journeys, look back at Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo’s romance…

Next thing she knew, her husband had a “cop ‘stache,” which she declared was “fire.”

Bunnie told him, “You look really good! That goatee and mustache are amazing, and even without any makeup, you still look great.”

Jelly Roll has recently undergone a noticeable physical transformation, and he’s been candid about his challenges with weight loss.

Back in 2015, I weighed over 500 pounds – the doctor’s scale couldn’t even measure my exact weight! They actually suggested I go to a meat processing plant or a truck stop to find a scale that could handle it. It was a really embarrassing experience.

He explained that he’s struggled with obesity since childhood. He’s always known being overweight, and it’s made him deeply unhappy. He dreams of being able to experience life to the fullest – things like skydiving, bungee jumping, and even just enjoying food without worry – and having a healthy, normal life and relationships.

Although people have been praising Jelly Roll’s recent weight loss, Bunnie Xo emphasized that what truly matters is something else.

In a TikTok video posted on September 28th, she shared that his core personality hasn’t changed, saying, ‘He’s always been the same person at heart.’ She added that he appears much healthier since losing weight.

Now roll on up to look back at Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo’s romance…

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 was 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 connected. Bunnie described it as an instant soulmate experience, even though they seemed like an unconventional match. She joked that he was more into Taylor Swift than someone like her.

However, a romance didn’t begin right away. Both were dealing with other things – 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 pass her number along to Jelly Roll. 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, Jelly Roll asked her about her five-year plan. After discussing their goals, they decided to pursue a relationship.

I’ve been following Jelly and Bunnie’s story for a while now, and it’s just incredible. They actually followed through on everything they talked about! They got married just a month after they started dating, in Las Vegas back in August 2016. Bunnie shared that they even had a five-year plan, and they completed it, all the way through – their final goal being to buy a house together.

Beyond their personal life, Bunnie always had big ambitions. After leaving the sex work industry in 2019, she really wanted to start her own talk show. Jelly said he asked her what she was passionate about, and that’s what she told him. She went on to launch the Dumb Blonde podcast later that same year!

What I find even more amazing is how supportive they are of each other. Bunnie actually used the money she earned to help Jelly pursue his dreams. She invested in his Addiction Kills album back in 2017 and even helped him with his custody battle for his daughter. It’s just a beautiful partnership, and I’m so happy for them both.

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 his van. Although Jelly Roll admits he wasn’t very present as a father initially, he fought for full custody of Bailee when her mother struggled with addiction.

Jelly Roll’s now-wife, Bunnie, played a crucial role in securing the legal representation for the custody battle and financially supported the process. This led both of them to re-examine their own lifestyles. Bunnie realized they couldn’t provide a stable home for Bailee if they continued with their substance use, and she committed to sobriety.

Bunnie also embraced a maternal role, and in 2024, she expressed her gratitude to Jelly Roll for allowing her to be the mother she always wanted to be, and to Bailee for the valuable life lessons she’d learned 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 wish that Noah and Bailee wouldn’t suffer for his past mistakes.

Over the years, Jelly Roll and Bunnie have generally kept Noah’s life private, though they 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 posting.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll have a positive relationship with Noah’s mother. Bunnie publicly praised her in a 2023 Facebook post, saying she’s a wonderful person and they couldn’t imagine life without her help, especially while Jelly Roll is touring.

Bunnie cherishes her role as Noah’s stepmother. She shared on Instagram in October 2024, after Noah attended one of his dad’s concerts, that watching him grow up brings her immense joy and she feels privileged to have been a part of his life since birth, also expressing gratitude for his mother.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie separated in 2018, two years after getting married. Jelly Roll later admitted to infidelity as the cause of the split, calling it a low point in his life. Despite the difficulty, they worked to repair their relationship and rekindled their romance later that year. He said the process made them stronger than ever, and while he wishes the affair hadn’t happened, he’s proud of the couple they are today. Bunnie shared on TikTok that their breakup and subsequent reconnection led them on an incredible journey, and allowed them to build a stronger, more solid foundation for their relationship, fulfilling promises made early in their relationship.

As Jelly Roll became more famous, he and his wife, Bunnie, made their red carpet debut together at the 2022 CMA Awards. In the documentary Jelly Roll: Save Me, Bunnie described them as “the Addams Family of country music—we don’t really fit in, but here we are.”

Jelly Roll and Bunnie recently renewed their vows, seven years after their original wedding. Bunnie fondly remembers their first wedding day, recalling Jelly Roll’s promise to her: he assured her things wouldn’t always be difficult and that they would overcome their challenges together. He kept that promise.

Looking back, Bunnie described the last seven years as a challenging but rewarding journey. They worked hard to heal from past traumas, learn to love healthily, and create a stable home for Bunnie’s daughter, Bailee. Through everything, they faced difficulties together with strength and optimism.

Bunnie lovingly calls Jelly Roll her soulmate, her safe haven, and her best friend, praising him as an exceptional man.

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 explained he struggled to write a sincere love song without sounding cheesy. He wanted to express how deeply he feels for her while still being true to himself. He emphasized that he only has eyes for her and wanted a song to reflect that vulnerability.

Beyond music, 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 in the audience or watching from home. She publicly praised him ahead of the 2024 CMT Music Awards, highlighting that his success wasn’t overnight – it was the result of twenty years of hard work. She recalled times when they doubted anyone was listening, followed by the joy of performing for packed arenas.

Bunnie described watching Jelly Roll write deeply personal songs that resonated with people, offering comfort and making them feel understood. Fans love seeing their strong commitment to each other.

She affectionately calls him ‘Papabear’ and believes his voice is healing, with the world as his chorus, expressing her love for him now and in any future life. Jelly Roll equally supports Bunnie, praising her success on social media and with her podcast, and sharing how much joy he feels seeing her inspire others, especially women.

Bunnie Xo is fiercely protective of her husband, Jelly Roll, and won’t tolerate negativity directed at him. She recently spoke out about the hurtful online comments he received regarding his weight before losing over 200 pounds, explaining that he was driven off the internet by the bullying. While Jelly Roll tries to hide how much it affects him, Bunnie says it deeply hurts her. She strongly pushed back against the idea that celebrities should simply ‘handle’ online criticism, stating that it’s unfair to expect that. Bunnie emphasized the importance of kindness, reminding people that you never know what someone is going through mentally. She made it clear she’ll always defend those who are targeted and won’t allow anyone to spread lies about her or her family without a fight.

Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie, have been sharing their journey to expand their family. After Jelly Roll mentioned they were considering having a baby, Bunnie explained they’ve been undergoing IVF treatments. In a June 2024 Instagram post, she said they decided to share their experiences publicly, as they’ve always been open with their fans, and the process has already been challenging. Despite the difficulties, they remain optimistic. They’ve been consulting with doctors and exploring all possibilities to grow their family, and while they never initially planned to have more children, they both now deeply desire a biological child to add to their family alongside their children, Bailee and Noah. Bunnie also revealed on her podcast, Dumb Blonde, in March 2025, that they are considering surrogacy because she is unable to carry a child herself due to health risks.

2025-11-21 00:50

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