Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO’s Separation Date Revealed in Divorce Filing

Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO haven’t been taking the lonely road for long.

Okay, so, I’m devastated, obviously. But apparently, my absolute idol, the country singer, officially filed for divorce from the host of Dumb Blonde on May 18th. TMZ got the papers, and it says it’s only been days since they even separated! Days! I’m just… completely heartbroken for him, but also trying to understand what happened. It all feels so fast.

In his divorce filing, 41-year-old Jelly Roll stated he and his wife married on August 30, 2016, and separated on May 9, 2026—just under two weeks before he officially filed for divorce.

According to TMZ, singer Brandon Flowers is divorcing his wife, citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’ He has two children from previous relationships: a 17-year-old daughter named Bailee and a 9-year-old son named Noah.

Although neither Alisa DeFord (known as Bunnie) nor her partner have officially confirmed the split, Bunnie shared a mysterious message on her Instagram Story shortly before the breakup became public.

Alongside a snap of her from a boudoir photo shoot, she wrote, “She’s getting her sparkle back.”

Earlier in the day, the 46-year-old also made a TikTok video lip-syncing to Nickelback’s song “How You Remind Me.”

She quietly sang along to the song on June 15th, mouthing the words, ‘It’s unusual for you to apologize. I was hoping for a different outcome.’ Then, she added, ‘I was wrong to give you something so fragile that you could hurt.’

TopMob News contacted representatives for Jelly Roll and Bunnie for a statement, but they haven’t responded yet.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m following the news about Bunnie and Jelly Roll’s breakup, and it’s definitely surprising! It comes just a few months after Bunnie bravely shared her story in her memoir, Stripped Down, where she opened up about the details of their relationship – and her life with Jason DeFord, as Jelly Roll is known.

Oh my gosh, it’s just… amazing to think about how far he’s come! Back in 2015, when I first met J, he wasn’t the incredible person he is now. For a whole year after that, he was still crashing on friends’ couches, and even living in his van – that beautiful, beat-up brown thing he called Bertha! It’s just… wow. To see where he is now, knowing where he started… it’s everything.

Even though his van was messy – filled with things like condoms, food crumbs, and garbage – Bunnie was attracted to him. She described their connection as feeling deeply spiritual, despite the state of the vehicle.

The pair also had plans to expand their family.

After working on ourselves and getting financially secure over the past ten years, we’re now planning for the future – and that includes having a baby. We’ve partnered with an amazing surrogate, and I’m about to begin the first steps of IVF treatment.

Bunnie expressed both her joy about expanding her family with Jelly Roll and her nervousness about becoming a mother.

She explained that she wanted to wait until she found the right partner – someone she was confident would be a wonderful father – and that she wanted to give their children every opportunity to thrive.

She shared that they plan to raise their children with all the love and opportunities they didn’t have growing up. She excitedly anticipates watching their children—a blend of both her and her partner—grow and play.

For a lookback on their decade-long romance, read on…

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 their seemingly different tastes – Bunnie said he loves Taylor Swift, and they weren’t each other’s usual type – they felt an instant connection. “It was the most cliché thing ever,” Bunnie explained in a 2023 podcast interview, “but my soul just knew he was the one.”

However, a romance didn’t begin immediately. Both were in other situations – 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.

The connection turned romantic in July 2016 when Jelly Roll returned to Vegas to film videos, and they spent the night together. Bunnie described a chaotic, drunken encounter, but also a surprisingly grounded conversation. Despite the moment, Jelly Roll asked about her five-year plan, and after discussing their goals, they decided to pursue a relationship.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll followed through on their initial plans as a couple. They married in Las Vegas in August 2016, just a month after meeting, and intentionally worked towards goals they’d set for themselves over the next five years – with buying a house being the final one.

Bunnie also wanted to start her own podcast. Jelly Roll explained that when she decided to leave sex work in 2019, he asked her what she was passionate about, and she expressed interest in hosting a talk show. She launched the Dumb Blonde podcast later that year.

Bunnie financially supported Jelly Roll’s career as well. She invested in his 2017 album, Addiction Kills, and helped him with legal matters related to gaining custody of his daughter.

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, when he was starting his music career and living in a van. While Jelly Roll admits he wasn’t very involved as a father initially, he fought for full custody of Bailee when her mother struggled with addiction.

His then-girlfriend, Bunnie, played a crucial role, financially supporting his legal battle to gain custody. This led both of them to re-examine their own lives and habits. Bunnie questioned whether they were fit to raise Bailee given their own struggles with substance abuse, and ultimately decided to get sober. She hasn’t taken a pill since.

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

Jelly Roll welcomed his son, Noah, around the time he and Bunnie got married in August 2016—and while he was also navigating a custody battle for his daughter, Bailee. He shared his hopes for Noah on Facebook, writing, ‘Noah Buddy DeFord! I pray he nor Bailee ever have to pay for their father’s sins.’

Jelly Roll and Bunnie generally keep Noah’s life private, but occasionally share small updates. In July 2023, Bunnie posted a TikTok of her asking Noah about his favorite things (soccer and playing in the water), making sure to note that she had gotten permission from Noah’s mother first.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll have a good relationship with Noah’s mom, whom Bunnie has publicly praised for being supportive. She expressed gratitude on Facebook in 2023, saying they ‘couldn’t imagine our lives without her,’ especially since Jelly Roll and Bunnie travel frequently.

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, especially after he attended one of his dad’s concerts. She also thanked Noah’s mother for being involved.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie separated two years after getting married, but they later reconciled. Jelly Roll has admitted to being unfaithful during their marriage, calling it a difficult moment that made him realize how much he loved his wife.

Despite the infidelity, they worked hard to repair their relationship, ultimately growing stronger as a couple. While he wishes things had been different, he’s proud of where they are today.

Bunnie shared on TikTok in 2023 that their breakup in 2018 and subsequent reconnection led them on an incredible journey. She described their initial struggles as necessary for building a stronger, more solid foundation for their relationship, expressing her deep love for him.

As Jelly Roll became more famous, he and his wife, Bunnie, made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2022 CMA Awards. In his 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 celebrated seven years of marriage in 2023 by renewing their vows. Bunnie fondly remembered their original wedding day, recalling how Jelly Roll promised her things would get better and that they would overcome the challenges they faced together. He kept that promise.

Bunnie described the last seven years as a difficult but rewarding journey. They worked hard to heal from past traumas, build a healthy relationship, and create a stable home for Bunnie’s daughter, Bailee. Through everything, they faced challenges together with smiles and unwavering support.

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 music, like the songs “Woman” and “Kill a Man.” He told Entertainment Tonight that she’s “the best,” and explained he struggled to write a genuine love song without sounding cheesy. He wanted to express how deeply he feels for her while still staying true to himself. He said he doesn’t have eyes for anyone else and wanted the 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.

As someone who’s seen a lot of relationships, I’m always so inspired by Bunnie and Jelly Roll! I’ve watched Bunnie consistently champion Jelly Roll, whether she’s in the audience at an awards show or at home. She recently shared how proud she is of his journey – it wasn’t an overnight success, but two decades of hard work! She’s seen him through the quiet days when it felt like no one was listening, to the incredible nights playing sold-out arenas. What really gets me is how she describes his songwriting – he pours his heart into creating music that truly heals people, reaching into their pain and letting them know they’re not alone. It’s beautiful! And the love goes both ways. Jelly Roll is her biggest fan, celebrating the amazing community she’s built through social media and her podcast. He’s so proud of how she inspires others, especially women. It’s a reminder that true partnership is about lifting each other up and celebrating every win, big or small. Their commitment to each other is genuinely heartwarming.

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 he was forced to step away from the internet due to the bullying. While Jelly Roll tries to hide the impact these comments have on him, Bunnie says they deeply affect him. She strongly refuted the idea that celebrities should simply ‘handle’ online negativity, emphasizing that it’s never okay to bully someone, as you don’t know what they’re going through. Bunnie vowed to always defend those who are targeted, stating she won’t allow anyone to spread lies about her or her family. Jelly Roll has also been open about his health struggles, recently revealing he was dealing with low testosterone and felt as though he was ‘dying’ during a December 2025 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.

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 explained they’ve been undergoing IVF treatments. She shared on Instagram in June 2024 that they decided to share their experience publicly because of their openness with fans, and acknowledged the difficulties they’ve already faced. They’re also exploring surrogacy, as Bunnie explained on her podcast, Dumb Blonde, in March 2025, due to health risks associated with her carrying a child herself. Despite the challenges, Bunnie remains hopeful, saying on her Dumb Blonde podcast in November 2025 that they’re trusting in God’s plan and are open to adoption if needed. They unexpectedly felt a desire to add to their family this year, wanting a child who shares a connection with both of them to join Bailee and Noah.

According to court documents, Jelly Roll filed for divorce in May 2026. Shortly before the news became public, his wife, Bunnie, shared a message on Instagram with a photo of herself, writing, “She’s getting her sparkle back.”

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2026-06-16 18:19