Bunnie Xo Details Blowing Through $2 Million in Her 20s

Bunnie Xo wishes she played her cards a bit differently in her twenties.

The host of the Dumb Blonde podcast has revealed she spent millions on drugs and partying during her twenties, before she met and married Jelly Roll.

She shared that when she was younger and earning a lot of money, she spent it on drugs, partying, expensive gifts for men, and buying houses.

Bunnie, whose real name is Alisa DeFord, now wishes she had saved more money in the past, as she regrets not being more financially responsible then.

“You don’t learn about things like credit and banking in school,” the man, 46, said. “I really think high schools should offer a class on it. It would be incredibly helpful for students, particularly those whose parents aren’t able to teach them about managing money.”

She admitted she once handled around a million or two dollars in her twenties, but now realizes she could have made better choices with that money and lived a more fulfilling life.

Despite the difficulties she faced, Bunnie is thankful for the experiences. She’s now sharing her story to inspire and support others going through similar situations.

Despite everything, Bunnie says she’s had an amazing life. In her new memoir, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, she shares her story, and she feels blessed that its success has brought her even more financial security later in life. She expresses gratitude for all of it.

I’m so excited about Bunnie Xo’s new book! She doesn’t just talk about her life before meeting Jason DeFord, who everyone knows as Jelly Roll, but she also shares what she and Jelly Roll are hoping for when it comes to growing their family. It’s really personal and gives a glimpse into their future plans.

Bunnie shared that after struggling with IVF, she and her husband, Jelly Roll (who she married in August 2016), are expecting twins through a surrogate mother soon.

After years of working on our emotional and financial well-being, my partner J and I are now planning to expand our family. We’ve partnered with an amazing surrogate, and I’m about to begin the process of preparing for IVF.

Despite being a little nervous, she and her partner, who is 41 and has two children – 17-year-old Bailee and 9-year-old Noah – from previous relationships, are excited to have a baby together.

She shared that she intentionally waited to start a family until she found someone she believed would be an amazing father, and to ensure their children would have wonderful lives. She and her partner plan to raise their babies with lots of love and provide opportunities they didn’t have themselves. She expressed excitement about seeing their children—a blend of both parents—grow up and play.

For more bombshells from Bunnie’s new memoir, keep reading…

Bunnie Xo was dating someone else in August 2015 when she first met Jelly Roll. He was performing as an opening act for the Moonshine Bandits at a Las Vegas country bar.

He completely melted her defenses. As she later wrote in her memoir, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, she admitted, “I was—can I even say it?—completely captivated?”

She confessed he wasn’t someone she’d usually be attracted to, but the moment they shook hands, it felt incredibly powerful – like a cosmic connection. She described an instant soul recognition, as if she’d known him forever and had been searching for him her whole life.

Honestly, the specifics of his playing? They’re a little fuzzy now. But my phone? Oh, my phone was full of videos of him! I just needed to analyze everything – how he moved on stage, the way he spoke… it was mesmerizing. I swear, I’d never been into that Southern accent before, but that night? Forget about it. I remember thinking to myself, crystal clear, ‘That boy… he’s going to be huge. A star, absolutely a star!’ I just knew it.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll had been connecting for months through texts and online chats. She often had company when he called, and she found herself constantly thinking about his smile. So, she was overjoyed when he told her he was filming a video in Las Vegas.

I usually go for strong, edgy guys—like tough types, or those with a goth or emo look—but J wasn’t really my style. He didn’t seem into me either. So, I have no idea why I felt such an instant connection with him the moment we met. It was completely unexplainable.

After spending an evening at a lively country bar, she said the connection between them was incredible, and they were instantly attracted to each other.

Bunnie recounted returning to her Las Vegas penthouse, where she initiated intimacy by removing her clothes and sitting on his lap, then starting to undress him. To her surprise, he didn’t reciprocate her advances.

He shifted the conversation and asked about her plans for the future. “I was annoyed but also curious, so I moved closer and lay down beside him, putting my arm around him,” Bunnie explained. “That’s when I began sharing my hopes and dreams.”

She shared her dreams of hosting a talk show and starting a family, while he talked about his music career and his intention to gain custody of his teenage daughter, Bailee.

Bunnie described how they spent hours together, imagining their future and how they could support each other. She said it was a completely open and honest conversation, unlike anything she’d experienced before.

Bunnie observed that J was unlike anyone she’d ever known, but she still felt a connection to him. She admitted he fit a familiar pattern – a tattooed man with a criminal past and history of drug dealing. However, she also noted that he was actively trying to change his life and move in a positive direction, much like herself.

She wanted to be upfront about her past. When they first met, he asked about her job, and she told him the truth. As Bunnie explained, “I told him I was a sex worker, and that I earned a good income. There are different tiers within this profession, and I’d say I was one of the more exclusive providers.”

And Jelly certainly did.

She explained that he wasn’t at all bothered or upset. He told her, ‘I admire your determination. You’re incredibly resourceful, and I completely understand what you had to do to get by.’ She added that he never made her feel ashamed or regretful about her choices.

I was so excited when she started touring with him! She was a pro and immediately updated her website with all the tour dates so her clients would know where she’d be. She even told me, ‘By the time the plane touched down in a city, my schedule was completely full!’ It was amazing to see how well she managed everything.

Jelly explained that it was the first time she’d been in a relationship where both she and her partner accepted each other completely, without trying to change one another. She felt comfortable and unpressured in the relationship.

The couple’s impulsive August 2016 wedding in Las Vegas had lasting consequences. Bunnie confessed she was terrified when Jelly proposed to her backstage after a show, admitting she questioned her ability to commit to such a significant step despite their unique connection.

She admitted she thrived on doing things without planning. “It was incredibly exciting, and I really loved how intense it was,” she said. “Would it all fall apart? Probably—but we’d have a good story to tell.”

Let me tell you, this couple really knew how to make an entrance! They were absolutely buzzing with excitement – and a little something else, if you catch my drift – as they drove to the courthouse, blasting Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married” and Bruno Mars’ “Gorilla.” As the bride herself put it, they were just completely high on life!

She described herself as being heavily under the influence of cocaine on her wedding day, and woke up the next morning in a torn black dress feeling incredibly angry and wondering if getting married had been a mistake.

Their first major argument happened soon after, leading to a serious talk while they looked out over the Grand Canyon. Jelly Roll assured her he only would have married her if he truly meant it.

Bunnie explained that J’s single sentence instantly eased all her anxieties. She’d always lived a life where nothing felt truly permanent – even relationships could end easily, and she never expected lasting commitment. But J was different; he envisioned a future with her, a long-term commitment she hadn’t experienced before.

Seven years later they returned to that Vegas chapel to renew their vows.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! Apparently, before me, J was a total heartbreaker. Bunnie actually said he was a player – like, seriously dating multiple women for years at the same time! I can’t even wrap my head around it, but it just makes me love her even more for seeing something in him that no one else did. It’s just… wow. She’s so strong for dealing with that past, and I’m obsessed with how open she is about it!

That includes the mother of his son Noah, born a week before his dad’s Vegas vows.

I’ve been following Jelly Roll’s story for a while now, and Bunnie recently shared some details about his past relationship. Apparently, he and his ex were on and off for about ten years – a really long time! She described it as a pretty rough, toxic relationship, but they both really wanted to do right by their son and co-parent as best they could. What struck me was that she was already quite far along in her pregnancy – eight or nine months! – when Jelly and I started dating.

Bunnie admitted things were difficult with her husband’s former partner at first, but now she truly loves her and admires the person and mother she’s become. She’s grateful to have someone who understands her husband as well as she does.

Bailee, who was only seven when she met Bunnie, may have actually helped the Dumb Blonde podcast host avoid a difficult situation.

Bunnie explained that after a few months of marriage, she and Jelly Roll were on the verge of gaining full custody of Bailee, as the child’s birth mother was struggling with severe drug addiction.

Bunnie began each day by taking a mix of medications – half a Lortab, a quarter of a Xanax, and a diet pill – which made her realize she needed to make some changes in her life.

She explained that she didn’t want to make things any harder for the child, who had already been through so much. Getting sober, at the very least, would prevent her from causing further trauma.

Thinking about Bailee helped me make a change,” Bunnie explained. “I stopped taking pills and using cocaine completely, but I knew it would take me longer to stop drinking alcohol.

Bunnie made up her mind to travel with Jelly Roll all the way to his home in Tennessee, but it was hard to leave Las Vegas.

Bunnie admitted she was feeling homesick and overwhelmed by the demands of being a full-time mom, especially because of her difficult relationship with her own stepmother. She found herself longing for her previous life in Las Vegas. Everything had changed so quickly – within months, she went from a life of freedom to one filled with constant responsibility and a feeling of sameness, things she’d successfully avoided since leaving home at fourteen. These pressures were starting to cause problems in her marriage.

Bunnie described girls from her past as having made her life difficult when she was the new kid in town, calling them ‘chasms’ in her life.

Lately, things had been really tense with Jelly Roll – we were arguing constantly. Then, a few days after Bailee had her tonsils removed, I just…left. I packed my bags and walked out. Looking back, I realize now more than ever that family is everything, and I never want to abandon them. But in that moment, I did. Honestly, there’s no good explanation, no string of excuses that can cover it up. It all came down to fear. I was absolutely terrified, and I let that fear control my actions.

Bunnie quickly realized she’d made a mistake and soon found a large five-bedroom house in Las Vegas for everyone to live in together. She explained it was her way of making up for leaving Bailee and his father. She wanted to show them she was committed for the long haul, and believed actions spoke louder than words.

However, Jelly Roll quickly changed his mind. “Out of nowhere, he decided to cancel everything,” Bunnie explained, adding that she was completely surprised.

Five months after moving to Las Vegas, Jelly Roll told Bunnie they were moving back to Nashville. She later discovered the real reason wasn’t what he told her. He had been secretly communicating with a former girlfriend – someone he’d briefly dated before they got together. Bunnie had suspected something was wrong but couldn’t confirm it. She also recognized that both she and Jelly Roll were still dealing with emotional pain and hadn’t fully learned how to love healthily.

Even though she suspected he wasn’t truly enthusiastic about her joining them in Tennessee, she accepted his invitation, saying she would never leave their little family again.

Bunnie explained that she believed allowing other women into their sexual encounters would protect her from future infidelity, given her past experiences with cheating. However, she clarified that they didn’t have an open relationship; rather, they were generally open to bringing women home with them if the situation arose.

Bunnie shared that if she ever wanted to be with someone else, her partner, J, had previously told her she was free to do so. Initially, this openness hurt her feelings – she wondered if a lack of jealousy meant he didn’t love her deeply. However, she later came to understand his perspective.

She explained that they both believe in maintaining their independence within the relationship, and they see it as being freely chosen, rather than simply permissive.

Bunnie made it clear that while she valued independence, honesty was non-negotiable. She insisted, “Just don’t lie to me, and always be upfront with me.”

She believed something was happening between Jelly Roll and a woman he used to be with. “For a year, this woman harassed me online,” she explained. “She’d share lyrics from his songs, show off his merchandise in photos, and subtly insult me in her posts, knowing I suspected something. I just couldn’t find any evidence to prove it.”

Bunnie explained that when she confronted Jelly Roll with these issues, he would manipulate her and make her question her own sanity.

Couples’ therapy didn’t help, and things continued to deteriorate for ten months, according to Bunnie. Eventually, the situation reached a breaking point and completely fell apart.

She came home from a trip to find her husband had already left their house in Nashville. A conversation with his best friend’s wife sadly confirmed what she had feared.

Bunnie shared that she had thought about ending her life that night. She explained the pain she was feeling was overwhelming and she just wanted it to stop.

I was completely shocked when I found out about the breakup. I was driving back to Vegas and saw Jelly Roll had posted about it on Instagram – even though he’d promised to wait months before saying anything. It really hurt to find out that way.

Bunnie explained that after a lot of drama, disagreements, and emotional pain, her final breaking point with J came. She decided she was done talking to him for good.

Oh my gosh, they were so into each other, it was incredible! I was practically glued to the scene, and honestly, I hung on every word he said. Apparently, he told her this whole story – Bunnie mentioned it was about a daughter of a drug dealer he supposedly met at a bar – and you know what? I totally bought it! I mean, she believed him, and so did I. It was just… captivating.

Until a random number began blowing up his phone.

It suddenly occurred to me,” Bunnie said. “It was him—her past casual relationship was still somehow involved, even though he’d insisted they’d broken up for good.”

Her trust in Jelly Roll demolished, she reached out to his affair partner for the full story.

Bunnie explained that she found out he bought a house for them and wanted her to be a stay-at-home mom to his daughter, Bailee, during their ten-month relationship. She said what bothered her most wasn’t a physical affair, but the emotional betrayal and the idea of him wanting another woman to raise a child she had grown to love.

Honestly, even after everything, Bunnie’s explanation just gets it. It’s like, she still loves Jelly, but it’s not the same carefree love anymore. She said it herself – when someone hurts you that deeply, it doesn’t erase the love, it just…changes it. It leaves your heart a little broken, a little more careful, and a lot less willing to trust so easily. It’s so raw and real, and it totally explains everything!

Bunnie admitted things weren’t back to normal, and their disagreements became heated. She even confessed to hitting Jelly Roll after he expressed no remorse for his actions.

She wrote that it would take a long time to get over the affair and even longer to truly believe her partner loved her and didn’t see her as easily replaceable.

Now nearly seven years into the pair’s fertility journey, the pieces are starting to come together.

Bunnie shared that she discovered her Fallopian tubes were blocked, meaning she’d need surgery – and even then, there was no guarantee she could get pregnant. However, thanks to advancements in IVF and the incredible generosity of a surrogate who agreed to carry twins for them, they were finally able to achieve their dream of having a baby.

Their plan is to use her eggs and his sperm and try for twins.

Bunnie responded to criticism about having children at her age with a defiant message, stating she doesn’t care what others think. She and her partner plan to raise their children with all the love and support they lacked growing up, and she’s excited to watch them grow and experience life outside of her and her partner’s bodies.

2026-02-17 23:51

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