Bunnie Xo Shares Hope to Welcome Twins With Jelly Roll Via Surrogate

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Bunnie Xo is looking to multiply her family soon.

Bunnie, in her new memoir Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, recently revealed that she and her husband, Jelly Roll, are expecting twins via surrogate. They had been trying to conceive through IVF, but are now hopeful for the arrival of their babies soon.

Things are really good right now – my partner J and I have finally reached a place of financial and emotional stability after a lot of personal growth over the last ten years, and we’re starting to think about the next chapter: expanding our family! We’ve decided to work with a wonderful surrogate, and I’m about to begin the IVF stimulation process. It feels like the perfect time for us.

In fertility treatment, ‘IVF stims’ refers to using medication to encourage the ovaries to develop multiple eggs. This process, guided by fertility specialists, increases the likelihood of collecting healthy eggs for fertilization.

Bunnie (Alisa DeFord) and Jelly Roll, 41, are looking forward to their future together, which includes raising their families. Jelly Roll is already a father to Bailee, 17, and Noah, 9, from previous relationships. Bunnie, who hosts a podcast, shared that she’s also a little anxious, as she’s waited a long time to have children with someone she believes will be a wonderful father and provide a great life for them.

Honestly, I adore Bunnie’s attitude! She knows some people might raise an eyebrow about them having kids a little later in life, but she just doesn’t care. She basically said she couldn’t be bothered with what anyone else thinks, and I live for that kind of honesty! It’s amazing.

Bunnie acknowledged that some people disapprove of their decision to have children at their age, but stated they don’t care what those people think.

She shared that they plan to raise their children with a lot of love and provide them with opportunities she and her partner didn’t have growing up. She expressed excitement about seeing their child, a blend of both parents, grow and play.

Bunnie revealed that she and her husband, Jelly Roll (whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord), started trying for a baby on October 31, 2019. She jokingly called it a fitting date, saying they’re like ‘the Addams family’ of country music.

During the initial period she learned that her “fallopian tubes were blocked.”

She told me she’d likely need surgery, but even then, there was no promise she’d be able to have a baby. It was heartbreaking to hear, and I just wanted to offer her all the support I could.

After hitting a rough spot in 2019, Bunnie hesitated to ask Jelly if they should try to rekindle their relationship. To her relief, he was excited about the idea and even told her he’d love to start a family with her.

And now the couple—who married in August 2016—are looking to the future.

Bunnie shared that thanks to advancements in IVF and the incredible generosity of a surrogate willing to carry twins, they are finally going to be able to have a baby.

From the start, Bunnie has always been open about the challenges they’ve faced.

She shared on her podcast in March that she’s experiencing a wide range of emotions – ups and downs, and anxiety – all in the hope of having another child with her husband. She described wanting ‘a little piece’ of their love, a baby to join their two other children.

Originally, she and Jelly Roll intended to keep their IVF journey private. However, they decided to share their experience publicly on Instagram in 2024, explaining that they’ve always been open with their lives. They added that facing long odds has already been difficult, and they were only at the beginning of the process.

For a look at more revelations from Bunnie’s 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.

Let me tell you, I’ve seen a lot of walls come down over the years, but this story really stuck with me. She was known for being incredibly guarded, a woman who didn’t let anyone in easily. But then he came along and somehow, completely broke through all of that. As she shared in her memoir, Stripped Down, she actually admitted to being
 well, captivated. She used her own words – she said she was ‘dare I say—mesmerized?’ It’s a beautiful reminder that even the strongest exteriors can be touched by the right person.

She confessed he wasn’t someone she’d usually be attracted to, but when they shook hands, it felt incredibly powerful – like a cosmic connection. She described it as a soul-deep recognition, as if she’d been searching for him her whole life.

She doesn’t remember much about his actual performance, but she took tons of videos of him. She wanted to really observe him – how he moved and spoke. She admitted she’d never been attracted to a Southern accent before, but that night was different. She clearly remembers thinking he had a bright future and would become a star.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll had been connecting for months through texts and online chats. She often had company when he called, and she couldn’t stop thinking about his charming smile. So, she was overjoyed when he told her he was filming a music video in Las Vegas.

I usually go for strong, edgy guys—like tough types, or goth and emo boys who wear eyeliner,” Bunnie said. “He wasn’t really my type, and I definitely wasn’t his. So I have no idea why, the moment we met, I felt like he was someone special. It just didn’t make any sense.”

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

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

He didn’t even seem interested in that moment, can you believe it? He just wanted to know my five-year plan! It was so weird, but honestly, it kind of
intrigued me. I immediately sat up, then lay down next to him, wrapping my arm around him, and I just started pouring out all my hopes and dreams. I couldn’t help it, he just had that effect on me.

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.

You know, sometimes the most meaningful connections happen when you just talk. I remember one time, my partner and I spent hours simply dreaming together – sharing our hopes for the future and how we envisioned building a life with each other. It was incredibly vulnerable, and honestly, the most open and honest conversation I’ve ever had with anyone. We really laid everything out on the table, and it brought us so much closer.

Bunnie observed that J was unlike anyone she’d known before, but she still felt a connection to him. She admitted he fit a certain pattern – a tattooed man with a criminal past and history of drug dealing – but what stood out was his effort to change and build a better life, something she could relate to.

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 intimidated. He told her, ‘I admire your drive and resourcefulness, and I have no issue with what you’ve done.’ She added that from the very beginning, he never made her feel ashamed of the things she did to get by.

When she started traveling with him, she updated her website with her tour schedule to let clients know where she’d be. As Bunnie explained, she was completely booked with appointments before each flight even landed.

Jelly shared that her relationship felt different because, for the first time, both she and her partner accepted each other completely, without trying to change one another.

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 doubted her ability to commit to such a significant step despite their unique connection.

She admitted, “I thrive on doing things on a whim. It was incredibly exciting, and I loved how intense it was. It was probably going to end badly, but at least we’d have a good story to tell.”

They celebrated all the way to the courthouse, playing Jagged Edge‘s “Let’s Get Married” and Bruno Mars‘ “Gorilla.” As Bunnie put it, “We were feeling amazing—in every sense of the word.”

After a wild wedding night—she described herself as heavily intoxicated—the bride woke up the next morning in a torn black dress, feeling angry and wondering if she’d made the wrong decision.

Their first major argument happened soon after, and it led to a serious talk while they were looking 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 felt life was fairly uncomplicated—relationships could end without major consequences, and no one ever considered a future with her. But J was different; he envisioned a lasting connection and saw a future with her.

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

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this about J! Bunnie actually said he was a total player before me. Like, seriously, she confessed he was seeing multiple women – for years at the same time! It’s
it’s a lot to process, but honestly, it just makes me love her even more for being so open about it. I mean, she’s so strong to have dealt with that and still be the amazing person she is. I’m obsessed with her, truly!

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

Bunnie explained that Jelly Roll and his previous partner had a complicated on-again, off-again relationship for around ten years. Though it was a very unhealthy dynamic, they tried their best to raise their son together. She also mentioned she and Jelly Roll started dating when she was already eight or nine months pregnant.

It wasn’t easy at first, I’ll admit, getting to know my husband’s ex. But honestly, I absolutely adore her now! She’s such an amazing woman and mother, and I’m so grateful to have her in our lives. It’s a huge relief to have someone who understands my husband as well as I do – it makes everything so much easier.

Bailee, who was only seven years old when she first 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 from her mother, who was struggling with drug addiction.

Bunnie began each day by taking a combination of medication—half a Lortab, a quarter of a Xanax, and a diet pill—which she referred to as her ‘cocktail.’ Realizing this wasn’t sustainable, she decided it was time to change her habits.

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

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.

Despite her decision to travel with Jelly Roll all the way to Tennessee, leaving Las Vegas was difficult for Bunnie.

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 freedom to a life filled with responsibility and routine, things she’d successfully avoided since leaving home at fourteen. She realized these pressures were starting to strain 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.

After arguing with Jelly Roll frequently, Bunnie woke up a few days following Bailee’s tonsil surgery and decided to leave. She later reflected, “I truly believe now that I would never abandon my family, but I did then. I could try to explain it with a lot of excuses, but the truth is I was just terrified.”

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 how she was trying to make things right with Bailee and her partner, and to show them she was fully committed from now on. She wanted to prove it through her actions, not just promises.

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

After only five months of living in Las Vegas, Jelly Roll told Bunnie they were moving back to Nashville. Bunnie later revealed the real reason for the move wasn’t what Jelly Roll told her. She discovered he had been secretly communicating with a former girlfriend he’d dated briefly 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 unresolved emotional pain and hadn’t fully learned how to love.

Even though she sensed his invitation to join them in Tennessee wasn’t very enthusiastic, she accepted, saying she would never leave their little family again.

Bunnie explained that she believed allowing other women into their sexual encounters would prevent future infidelity, based on past experiences. However, she clarified that this wasn’t an open relationship, but they generally wouldn’t refuse if someone wanted to join them.

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 caused her some pain, as she wondered if a lack of jealousy meant he didn’t truly love her. However, she eventually came to understand his perspective.

She explained that they both believe in maintaining their independence within the relationship, and see it as a free connection rather than simply an open one.

Bunnie made it clear that while she valued her friends’ independence, honesty was paramount. She insisted, ‘Just don’t lie to me, and always be upfront with me about what’s going on.’

She strongly suspected 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 was catching on. I just couldn’t find any proof.”

Bunnie explained that when she questioned Jelly Roll about his posts, he would manipulate her and make her feel like she was the one with the problem.

Couples’ therapy didn’t help, and things continued to deteriorate for ten months, according to Bunnie. Eventually, their problems came to a head in a messy and dramatic way.

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 considered suicide that night. She explained the pain she was feeling was overwhelming and she simply wanted it to stop.

Instead of staying, she drove back to Las Vegas and found out on Instagram that Jelly Roll had already announced their breakup, even though he’d said he would wait several months before doing so.

Bunnie explained that after everything that had happened – the disagreements, the pain, and all the trouble with J – she’d finally reached her limit. She decided she was done talking to him for good.

They were completely committed to each other, through thick and thin, as Bunnie put it. She recalled him telling a story – “about a drug dealer’s daughter he met at a bar” – and admitted, “And I believed him.”

Until a random number began blowing up his phone. 

It suddenly occurred to me,” Bunnie said. “It was her ex—he was still involved, even though he’d insisted they’d broken up completely.”

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. She said what bothered her most wasn’t a physical affair, but the emotional betrayal and the idea of him wanting her to raise a child she had grown to love.

Bunnie explained that even after forgiving Jelly Roll, the experience left a lasting impact. “You don’t stop loving someone who hurt you,” she said, “but your heart changes. It becomes more cautious, less open, and a little broken.”

Bunnie was clear that things weren’t simply back to normal. She admitted some of their arguments became heated, and even confessed to hitting Jelly Roll after he expressed no remorse for his actions.

I remember reading her words, and they just broke my heart. She explained it would take years to get over the affair, to truly believe he loved her and didn’t see her as someone he could just replace. It wasn’t about forgetting the pain, it was about rebuilding her sense of worth after he made her feel so
 expendable. It’s something I’ve followed closely, and it really resonated with me.

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

I was heartbroken to discover I had blocked Fallopian tubes, meaning carrying a baby myself would be incredibly difficult, even with surgery. But honestly, seeing how far IVF has come, and being blessed with the most incredible surrogate who’s chosen to carry twins for us, has given us so much hope. It’s truly making our dream of becoming parents a reality.

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, ‘I don’t care.’ She explained that they plan to raise their children with a lot of love and provide them with opportunities they didn’t have themselves. She expressed excitement about watching their children grow and experience life, seeing a part of herself and her partner reflected in them.

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2026-02-17 15:19