Jelly Roll Nearly “Blew” Chance With Bunnie Xo After NSFW Moment

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Luckily, Bunnie Xo saw the vision when she met Jelly Roll. 

In a clip from her new book, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, Bunnie revealed that the Grammy-winning artist almost ruined their chance at a relationship before it began.

In her upcoming memoir, releasing February 17th, Bunnie recalls that J was in a very different place in 2015 when they first met. She writes that a year later, he was still moving between friends’ couches and living out of his van, Bertha.

Bunnie, 46, says her now-husband was proud of the car, even though she describes it as a “heap of junk” and the dirtiest vehicle she’d ever encountered. He is the father of Bailee, 17, and Noah, 9, from previous relationships.

However, it was what she saw inside the car that really gave her the ick. 

Bunnie, whose real name is Alisa DeFord, added that there was even a mattress on the floor inside, along with used condoms, crumbs, and trash scattered all over the place.

Seeing the mess triggered her OCD, making it extremely intense. When Jason DeFord (known as Jelly) asked her to come into the van, she refused, explaining she stayed in her own car because it was so dirty.

Despite the van being a mess, Bunnie felt an immediate connection with Jelly, who is 41. She described it as a deeply spiritual feeling.

I usually go for strong, edgy guys—think goth or emo types with eyeliner—but J wasn’t really my style. He didn’t seem into me either, which is why I was so confused when we first met. Something just clicked, and my gut told me he was special, even though I couldn’t understand why. I had a feeling about how he felt about me, but I wasn’t certain.

Bunnie felt confident their relationship would be something special after their first night together, especially considering Jelly had driven all the way from Tennessee to meet her in Las Vegas.

However, their night would get off to a bit of a rocky start.

She described undressing and inviting J into her room. He was very drunk when he arrived and was shocked by what she was doing, almost falling over. He seemed extremely shy, so she led him to sit down and then sat on his lap, beginning to kiss and undress him.

“And that man,” she added, “absolutely would not bang me.”

Instead, Jelly wanted to talk about their future together and take it one step at a time.

In her book, Bunnie recalls spending hours talking and imagining their future together. She describes it as a completely open and honest conversation, unlike anything she’d experienced before.

The following morning, Jelly made a pinky promise to Bunnie that they would work to achieve their goals.

“‘Pinky promise,’” she reveals she told him, before taking her pinky to hook “mine around his.”

For a deeper look into Bunnie and Jelly’s love story, 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 was famous. He was living in a van at the time, and there were only about 20 people at the show. Despite their initial differences – Bunnie said he typically prefers someone like Taylor Swift, and they didn’t seem like a typical match – they felt an immediate connection.

However, a romance didn’t begin right away. 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 her 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 relationship shifted from friendship to romance in July 2016 when Jelly Roll returned to Vegas to film videos. After a drunken encounter, he surprised her by asking about her five-year plan. After discussing their goals, they decided to pursue a relationship.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll followed through on their plans, getting married in Las Vegas in August 2016, just a month after they first discussed it. 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 ambitions, 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 expressed a desire to host a talk show. She launched the Dumb Blonde podcast later that year.

Bunnie used the 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 revealed 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 him entering her life around age two, as he was starting his music career and living in his van. Although Jelly Roll admits he wasn’t a very involved father initially, that changed when he fought for full custody of Bailee as her mother struggled with addiction.

Even though their relationship was new, Jelly Roll’s now-wife, Bunnie, financially supported his legal battle to gain custody. This prompted both of them to re-examine their own lives. Bunnie realized they couldn’t provide a stable home for Bailee if they were still using drugs, and she committed to sobriety.

Bunnie also embraced a motherly role, and in 2024, she wrote a touching message to Bailee for her 16th birthday, thanking Jelly Roll for allowing her to be the mother she never had and praising Bailee for the positive impact she’s had on her life over the past eight years.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie welcomed their son, Noah, around the time of 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 a 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, only occasionally sharing small updates. In July 2023, Bunnie posted a TikTok video of a Q&A with Noah, where he revealed he loves soccer and playing in the water, but she emphasized she had gotten permission from Noah’s mother before posting.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll have a good relationship with Noah’s mother, whom Bunnie describes as a wonderful person and essential support, especially when Jelly Roll is touring. Bunnie often expresses her joy in being Noah’s stepmother, sharing on Instagram in October 2024 that watching him grow up is a privilege and she’s grateful for both Noah and his mother.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie separated in 2018, two years after getting married. Jelly Roll later admitted to having an affair, calling it a low point in his life. He realized how much he loved his wife and the experience deeply affected him.

Despite the initial split, they worked to repair their relationship and rekindled their romance later that year. Jelly Roll said the process made them stronger than ever, and while he wished the affair hadn’t happened, he’s proud of the couple they’ve become.

Bunnie shared on TikTok in 2023 that their 2018 breakup and subsequent reconnection led them on an incredible journey. She explained that their relationship had to fall apart to be rebuilt on a stronger foundation, and expressed her deep love for Jelly Roll.

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 world,” explaining they felt like outsiders but were determined to be part of the scene.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary in 2023 by renewing their vows. Bunnie fondly 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 described the last seven years as a challenging but beautiful journey. They worked hard to heal from past traumas and build a loving, healthy relationship, creating a stable home for Bailee, their daughter. Through everything, they faced difficulties 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, and 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 music, like the songs “Woman” and “Kill a Man.” He told Entertainment Tonight that she’s “the best,” and he struggled to write a love song that felt genuine without sounding cheesy. He wanted to express how deeply he feels for her while still staying true to himself. He explained that 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 a devoted fan and biggest supporter of her husband, Jelly Roll, whether she’s with him at events or watching from home. She publicly celebrated his 2024 CMT Music Awards nomination, acknowledging his twenty-year journey to success. She described how they faced times when it felt like no one was listening, followed by nights performing for packed arenas.

Bunnie admires Jelly Roll’s songwriting, explaining that he creates deeply moving music that connects with people who are struggling, offering them comfort and the feeling of being understood. She affectionately calls him ‘Papabear’ and expresses her love and commitment, saying she’ll support him in this life and all others.

Jelly Roll is equally supportive of Bunnie, praising her success with social media and her podcast, and expressing how proud he is of the way she inspires others, especially women.

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 his significant weight loss of over 200 pounds. Bunnie explained on her April 2024 podcast, Dumb Blonde, that Jelly Roll was forced to step away from the internet due to the constant bullying, which deeply upset her, describing him as a kind and gentle person. While he tries to hide the impact these comments have on him, she knows they take a toll.

Bunnie challenged the idea that celebrities should simply ignore online negativity, stating that it’s unfair to expect them to withstand such abuse. She strongly condemned bullying, emphasizing that you never know what someone is going through mentally. She vowed to defend those who are targeted, saying she won’t allow anyone to bully her or spread lies about her family, and will fight to protect them.

Jelly Roll has also been open about his health struggles, recently revealing on The Joe Rogan Experience in December 2025 that he was facing low testosterone and other health concerns, and felt like he was “dying.”

Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie, have been openly 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. She explained on Instagram in June 2024 that they decided to share their experience publicly because of their openness with fans, and because the process has already been difficult despite being in its early stages. They are hopeful and exploring all options, including IVF and surrogacy. Bunnie shared on her podcast, Dumb Blonde, in March 2025 that she and Jelly Roll are considering surrogacy because she is unable to carry a child due to health risks. Despite the challenges, Bunnie expressed on her podcast in November 2025 that they are trusting in what is meant to be, and are open to adoption if expanding their family isn’t possible through other means. They already have two children, Bailee and Noah, and are excited about the possibility of adding to their family.

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2026-02-13 15:18