Jelly Roll’s Daughter Bailee Breaks Silence on Bunnie Xo Divorce

Bailee Ann DeFord is making her voice heard amid her parents’ breakup.

It’s been really tough seeing all the attention on my dad, Jelly Roll, and Bunnie Xo going through their divorce. It feels so personal, and honestly, I just wish everyone would respect our privacy right now and let us deal with things as a family. It’s hard enough without feeling like everything is being watched by the public.

On June 16th, Bailee expressed her frustration on TikTok, saying she was upset by how much attention people were giving to what she described as a private family issue. She called the situation “crazy.”

The 18-year-old added, “Go on somewhere yall. Worry bout your house—not mine.”

Although she asked for privacy, she suggested she might eventually discuss the divorce publicly, saying, “I’m not ready to talk about it right now.”

TopMob News has reached out to Jelly Roll and Bunnie’s reps for comment but hasn’t heard back.

News came out yesterday that Jelly Roll and his wife Bunnie were separating after almost ten years of marriage. Jelly Roll, who also has a nine-year-old son named Noah from a previous relationship, cited “irreconcilable differences” in divorce documents obtained by TopMob News, with the separation date listed as May 9th.

People were surprised by the breakup, considering how openly the couple had talked about their love. Adding to the shock, Bunnie (Alisa DeFord) published her popular memoir, Unapologetic, in February and continued to appear with Jelly Roll at events in the following weeks, where they both emphasized how close they were.

Even though Jelly Roll (whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord) and Bunnie haven’t officially confirmed their split, Bunnie, who hosts the Dumb Blonde podcast, posted a few puzzling messages online around the time the news started spreading.

On June 15th, she posted a TikTok video lip-syncing to Nickelback’s song “How You Remind Me.” The song includes the lines, “It’s not like you to say ‘Sorry,’ / I was waiting for something different, / I thought I was wrong / To give you my heart, knowing you could hurt me.”

I was so thrilled to see that she’s really feeling good again! On top of everything else, she even shared a confident, topless photo on her Instagram Story with the caption, ‘She’s getting her sparkle back,’ and it just made my day.

For a look back at Jelly Roll and Bunnie’s relationship through the years, 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 there were only about 20 people in the audience.

Despite their seemingly different tastes – Bunnie noted he’s a fan of Taylor Swift, which isn’t typically her type – they felt an instant connection. As she described it, meeting him felt like finding a missing piece of herself.

However, a romance didn’t begin immediately. 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 found herself falling for him.

After Bunnie’s ex-partner went to prison, she asked a friend to give Jelly Roll her number. He began calling and texting her for advice about his daughter, Bailee. Their connection shifted from friendly to romantic in July 2016 when he returned to Las Vegas to film videos, and they spent the night together.

Bunnie remembers a humorous moment from that night, recalling they were both very drunk when he unexpectedly asked about her five-year plan. After discussing their goals, he gave her the go-ahead, and their relationship officially began.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll followed through on their plans quickly! They got married just a month after meeting, in August 2016 at a Las Vegas wedding chapel, as Bunnie shared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast. She explained they even stuck to a five-year plan they’d made together, culminating in buying a house.

Bunnie also had her own ambitions, including starting a podcast. Jelly Roll recounted on The Howard Stern Show that when she decided to leave the sex work industry 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 same year.

Bunnie also financially supported Jelly Roll’s career. As she revealed on Sofia with an F, she invested in his 2017 album Addiction Kills and helped him gain 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 her father entering her life around age two, as he was beginning his music career and living in his 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.

Though their relationship was new, Jelly Roll’s now-wife, Bunnie, financially supported 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, ultimately deciding to get sober.

Bunnie also embraced a maternal role, and in 2024, she wrote a heartfelt message to Bailee for her 16th birthday, thanking Jelly Roll for allowing her to be the mother she never had and expressing gratitude to Bailee for the 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 desire 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, but occasionally share small updates. In July 2023, Bunnie posted a TikTok video of questions she asked Noah—like his favorite sport (soccer) and beach activity (playing in the water)—but emphasized she got permission from Noah’s mother first.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll have a good relationship with Noah’s mother. Bunnie publicly praised her in a 2023 Facebook post, saying she’s a wonderful person and invaluable, especially since Jelly Roll and Bunnie travel frequently. She appreciates her help with Noah.

Bunnie also loves being Noah’s stepmom. In an October 2024 Instagram post, after Noah attended one of his dad’s concerts, she expressed how much joy she gets from watching him grow up and how privileged she feels to be a part of his life since he was born. She also reiterated her gratitude for Noah’s mother.

As a longtime follower of Jelly Roll and Bunnie, I was heartbroken to hear about their separation a couple of years after they got married. It came out that Jelly Roll had been unfaithful, and he’s been really open about how much that moment shook him. He said it was the first time he truly felt like he was failing, even though he deeply loved Bunnie. But what’s amazing is that they didn’t give up. They worked incredibly hard to rebuild their relationship, and they actually rekindled things later in 2018. He’s said they’re stronger now than ever before, and while he wishes things hadn’t happened the way they did, he’s proud of the couple they’ve become. Bunnie has also shared how their breakup in 2018, and her journey to win him back, ultimately led them to a deeper commitment. She described their initial struggles as needing to ‘crumble’ so they could build something lasting. Seeing their journey, and how they’ve faced challenges and come out stronger, is truly inspiring.

You know, watching Jelly Roll’s journey has been incredible, and it was so sweet to see him and Bunnie officially step into the spotlight together at the 2022 CMA Awards. Bunnie actually described them perfectly in his documentary, Jelly Roll: Save Me – she said they’re a little like the Addams Family in the country music world! They feel like outsiders, but they’re embracing the ride and making their own space, and I just love that authenticity.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie recently reaffirmed their love by renewing their vows seven years after their initial wedding. Bunnie fondly remembers their first wedding day, recalling Jelly Roll’s promise to support her and help them build a better life together. He kept that promise.

Bunnie described the past seven years as a challenging but rewarding journey. They worked hard to overcome past traumas and create a loving, stable home for Bailee, facing every obstacle together with strength and optimism.

Bunnie lovingly referred to Jelly Roll as her soulmate, safe haven, and best friend, praising him as an exceptional man and her greatest hero.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie continue to have a loving relationship, with Bunnie even serving as inspiration for some of his music, like the songs “Woman” and “Kill a Man.”

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight about the song “Kill a Man,” Jelly Roll said Bunnie is “the best,” and that he struggled to write a genuine love song without sounding cheesy. He wanted to express how deeply in love he is while still feeling like himself.

He explained, “I don’t see any other woman on Earth but her,” and wanted the song to reflect that vulnerability.

The couple has also appeared together in his music videos for “Wheels Fall Off” and “Lonely Road,” which featured Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox.

Seriously, I’m obsessed with Jelly and Bunnie! I just live for their love story. I’m always rooting for Jelly, whether I’m at a show or watching from home, but Bunnie is his biggest cheerleader, hands down. She’s so proud of him, and she gets him. She posted the sweetest thing after the CMT Awards, calling him her ‘visionary’ and reminding everyone this wasn’t some overnight thing – it’s been twenty years of hard work! She remembers those tough days when it felt like no one was listening, and now look at him – selling out arenas! It’s incredible. She says watching him write is like watching him create ‘therapeutic hymns’ for anyone who’s hurting, and how those songs just reach people and make them feel understood. It’s so beautiful! She calls him ‘Papabear’ and says his voice heals – honestly, I’m tearing up just thinking about it. She loves him in this life and every other one! And he feels the same way about her! He’s so proud of everything she’s built with her podcast and on social media, especially how she inspires other women. It just makes his heart burst, and honestly, it makes mine too! They’re just…everything.

Bunnie Xo is fiercely protective of her husband, Jelly Roll, and won’t tolerate anyone attacking him. She recently spoke out against hurtful online comments he received about his weight before losing over 200 pounds, explaining that the bullying drove him off the internet and deeply upset her.

While Jelly Roll tries not to show it, Bunnie says these comments definitely affect him. She strongly refuted the idea that celebrities should simply ‘handle’ online criticism, emphasizing that it’s never okay to bully someone, as you don’t know what they might be going through.

Bunnie vowed to always defend those who are targeted and warned bullies not to come for her or her family, promising a fight. Jelly Roll himself has been open about his health struggles, including low testosterone, and admitted on The Joe Rogan Experience that he felt like he was ‘dying’.

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. She explained on Instagram in June 2024 that they decided to share their experience because of their open relationship and the challenges they’ve already faced. They’re also exploring surrogacy, as Bunnie shared on her podcast, Dumb Blonde, in March 2025, due to risks associated with her carrying a child herself. While the process has been difficult, Bunnie expressed on her November 2025 podcast that they’re trusting in fate and open to adoption if needed. They initially hadn’t planned to have more children, but something changed this year, and they now long to add to their family, which already includes Bailee and Noah.

Jelly Roll and his wife are divorcing, with court documents in Tennessee showing the filing occurred in May 2026. Shortly before the news became public, Bunnie shared a suggestive post on Instagram—a picture of herself in lingerie with the caption, “She’s getting her sparkle back.”

Read More

2026-06-17 05:19