Jelly Roll Details “Preteen” Testosterone Levels Before Weight Loss

by

Jelly Roll had barely nothing left at all.

Okay, so Jelly Roll – seriously, the most amazing artist ever – recently talked about how scary things were before he started losing weight. He said his blood tests at the beginning of his journey – when he weighed over 200 pounds – showed just how bad his health actually was. It was a real wake-up call for him, and honestly, it just makes me admire him even more that he took control and started changing things!

Jelly Roll (whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord) recently shared in an interview with Men’s Health that his testosterone levels were extremely low—comparable to those of a preteen boy. He said seeing the test results was a real wake-up call. “When I went in there for the test, it was bad. Bad. The world opened up when I seen it on paper.”

He was shocked by his low testosterone level, which measured at 57. The 41-year-old, who is married to Bunnie Xo, explained that it’s difficult to function normally with such low levels. He admitted struggling with intimacy despite being married to a very attractive woman, and his initial blood test results were so concerning, doctors questioned how he was still functioning.

His sex life has done a complete 180 ever since he got his health in order.

It’s completely changed now,” the singer, who has been nominated for a Grammy, said with a laugh. “I’m playfully running after her all over the house – it’s like being a kid again! I’m full of energy, popping up everywhere to surprise her. Like, she’ll open a cupboard and I’ll jump out and say ‘Hi!’”

As someone who’s followed a lot of personal journeys, I’ve seen firsthand how life’s challenges can impact all areas of our lives. Jelly Roll, who’s a dad to Bailee Ann, 17, and Noah, 9, from previous relationships, recently shared how his weight affected things with his spouse. It’s so brave of him to open up about something so personal and show us that even when things are tough, communication is key.

He explained to Joe Rogan on his podcast that he finally understood the pain his addiction had caused his family and how badly his sex life with his wife had deteriorated. He described his wife as a ‘beautiful, blonde, and busty’ woman.

The singer explained to Joe, “I married a woman who always knew how to cheer me up, even when I was at my lowest.” He then described the difficulties they faced intimately, saying his size made sex awkward and physically challenging. “It felt like we were contorting ourselves just to make it work,” he said. “It was really uncomfortable and not enjoyable.”

Keep reading for more on Jelly Roll and Bunnie’s romance…

I’ve been following Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll’s story, and it’s honestly incredible. It all started way back in 2015 in Las Vegas, before anyone really knew who Jelly Roll was. I remember hearing Bunnie talk about it on a podcast – she saw him perform at a small country saloon, and there were maybe 20 people there! She said it was totally cliché, but she felt an instant connection – like she’d known him forever, even though he wasn’t her usual type (he’s a huge Taylor Swift fan!).

They didn’t get together right away, though. Both of them were dealing with other things – she was in a bad relationship, and he was focused on his own life. But they reconnected in October 2015, and she was immediately smitten. After her ex went to prison, she actually had a friend pass Jelly Roll her number. He started calling and texting her for advice about his daughter, Bailee, which was really sweet.

Things shifted to something more in July 2016 when he was back in Vegas filming videos. They ended up spending the night together, and she described it as chaotic! She was trying to make a move, and he was asking about her five-year plan! Apparently, after they talked about their goals, he was on board. It’s just a really beautiful story of how they found each other, even when they didn’t seem like a match on paper.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by couples who build a life together with intention, and Jelly Roll and Bunnie are a perfect example. They actually followed through on a five-year plan they made right after getting married – a quick Vegas wedding in August 2016! They tackled each goal, and the final one was achieving their dream of owning a home.

Bunnie’s always been a go-getter, too. After leaving the sex work industry in 2019, she knew she wanted to create something new. Jelly Roll told me she’d always dreamed of hosting a talk show, and she launched the Dumb Blonde podcast later that same year. What I love even more is that she used her own success to invest in Jelly Roll’s dreams. She funded his Addiction Kills album in 2017 and even helped him with a crucial legal battle to gain custody of his daughter. It’s a beautiful story of mutual support and achieving goals together.

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, when he was starting his music career and living in a van. While Jelly Roll admits he wasn’t always there for her, he fought for full custody when Bailee’s mother struggled with addiction.

Interestingly, Jelly Roll’s then-girlfriend, Bunnie, financially supported his legal battle to gain custody. This led both of them to re-examine their own lives and habits. Bunnie realized they couldn’t provide a stable home for Bailee if they were still using drugs themselves, and she made the decision to get sober.

Bunnie also embraced a maternal role, becoming the mother figure Bailee needed. In a heartfelt message for Bailee’s 16th birthday in 2024, Bunnie thanked Jelly Roll for allowing her to be Bailee’s mother and expressed gratitude to Bailee for the healing she’d experienced 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 in a Facebook post, stating he wanted him and Bailee to avoid repeating his past mistakes.

Over the years, Jelly Roll and Bunnie have generally kept Noah’s life private, sharing only occasional glimpses. In July 2023, Bunnie posted a TikTok featuring Noah, asking him about his favorite things, but emphasized that she had first gotten permission from Noah’s mother.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll have a good relationship with Noah’s mother, whom Bunnie praised in a Facebook post, highlighting her support with Noah, especially while Jelly Roll is touring. Bunnie also expressed how much she enjoys being Noah’s stepmother, sharing on Instagram in October 2024 that watching him grow up is a privilege and that 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 infidelity as the cause of the split, calling it a low point in his life. He explained that the affair made him realize how much he loved his wife and how capable he was of making mistakes.

Despite the hardship, they worked to repair their relationship and rekindled their romance later that year. Jelly Roll emphasized the effort they both put in, saying it ultimately made them stronger. While he wished the affair hadn’t happened, he expressed pride in the couple they’ve become.

Bunnie shared on TikTok in 2023 that their breakup and subsequent reconciliation were pivotal in their journey together, leading them to finally fulfill promises they made early in their relationship. She described their initial struggles as necessary for building a stronger, more solid foundation for their future together.

As Jelly Roll’s popularity grew, he and his wife, Bunnie, made their red carpet debut together at the 2022 CMA Awards. In the 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 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 challenges together. He kept that promise.

Bunnie described the last seven years as a challenging but rewarding journey. They worked hard to heal from past traumas, build a healthy relationship, and create a stable home for Bailee. Through everything, they faced difficulties together with strength and optimism.

Bunnie lovingly shared that Jelly Roll is her soulmate, her safe haven, and her best friend – 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 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 being true to himself. He explained that he doesn’t have eyes for anyone else and wanted a song that showed his 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 Jelly Roll’s biggest supporter, always cheering him on whether she’s in the audience or watching from home. She publicly praised him after the 2024 CMT Music Awards, 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 in 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 unwavering love and commitment, saying she’ll love him in this life and every other.

Jelly Roll is equally supportive of Bunnie, celebrating her success on social media and with her podcast. He’s incredibly proud of how she inspires others, especially women, and says it fills him with joy.

Bunnie Xo is fiercely protective of her husband, Jelly Roll, and won’t tolerate negativity directed towards him or their family. She recently spoke out about the hurtful comments Jelly Roll received online regarding his weight before his significant weight loss, explaining that it led him to step away from the internet. While Jelly Roll tries not to show how these comments affect him, Bunnie revealed they deeply hurt him. She strongly believes that celebrities are not immune to the pain caused by online bullying. Bunnie emphasized the importance of kindness and understanding, reminding everyone that you never know what someone is going through mentally. She vowed to defend those who are targeted by bullies, stating she will always fight for the underdog and won’t allow false or hurtful statements about her family to go unchallenged.

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 explained they’ve been undergoing IVF treatments. In a June 2024 Instagram post, she said they decided to share their experience because of their openness with fans, and because the process has already been challenging. Despite the difficulties, they remain hopeful. They’ve been consulting with doctors and exploring all options to have a child, admitting they never initially planned to expand their family but felt a change this year. They also discussed considering surrogacy, as Bunnie explained on her podcast Dumb Blonde in March 2025 that she is unable to carry a child due to health risks.

Read More

2026-01-02 18:48