Jelly Roll Says Daughter Bailee Is Breaking “Generational Curses”

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Jelly Roll is singing the ballads of the graduate.

The singer of “Save Me” marked his daughter Bailee Ann’s 18th birthday and high school graduation with a heartfelt post on social media.

As a parent, I’m always reflecting, and recently I found myself thinking back to when my daughter was little. I was starting out, renting a house just behind my dad’s place – seriously, you could walk directly from my back door to his! It got me thinking about how far we’ve all come, and I wanted to share a little of that journey. It’s hard to know where to begin, but sometimes a story feels like the best place to start…

He recalled a time when they were walking and his daughter suddenly stopped, asking how they would cross a river. He admitted he was initially puzzled, but when he looked at her, he saw the wonder and imagination in her eyes, like she was truly experiencing the scene.

Rather than dismissing her question, the Grammy-winning artist remembered saying, “The river could be dangerous because of alligators, but I’m even more concerned about the tigers over there.”

You warned me right then that the bears would be the biggest challenge, and you were right. It took us nearly two hours to cover just twenty yards – we battled imaginary alligators, escaped from hyenas, even fought bears, and swam through a river full of anacondas! I didn’t realize it at the time, but your imagination was sparking mine, and you were about to become the most important person in my life and a huge part of my journey.

Jelly Roll, who is married to Bunnie Xo and has two children – Bailee and Noah Buddy, age 9 – from previous relationships, continued to celebrate Bailee’s important achievements, all on the same day.

He wrote, ‘Happy 18th birthday and congratulations on graduating high school! You’ve achieved something remarkable – something very few people in our family, including me, have done. You’re not just a high school graduate, you’re about to start college!’

You truly represent someone who’s overcome difficult family patterns,” she said. “You’re kind, intelligent, compassionate, loving, and have a wonderful sense of adventure and humor – you’re everything I always wished I could be.

He proudly stated his daughter was destined for great things and expressed his unwavering support as she pursues her dreams and forges her own way in life.

Jelly Roll told her, “You look great at 18!” He excitedly shared that he’s looking forward to celebrating her college graduation, seeing pictures from her wedding, and watching her grow into the amazing woman she’s destined to be.

Keep reading for more on Jelly Roll’s relationship with Bunnie Xo…

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 was famous. He was living in a van at the time, and the show had a small audience of around 20 people.

Despite their different tastes – Bunnie noted he’s a Taylor Swift fan, and they weren’t each other’s usual type – they felt an instant connection. Bunnie described it as feeling like she’d found someone she was meant to be with.

However, a romance didn’t begin immediately. Both were involved in other situations. They reconnected in October 2015, and Bunnie quickly fell for him. After her ex-partner went to prison, she asked a friend to pass her number along to Jelly Roll. He started reaching out to her for advice about his daughter, Bailee.

Their connection turned romantic in July 2016 when Jelly Roll returned to Vegas to film videos. After a drunken encounter, he surprised her by asking about her long-term goals. After discussing their futures, they decided to pursue a relationship.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll followed through on their plans quickly. They got married a month after they first discussed it, in August 2016 at a Las Vegas chapel. Bunnie shared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast that they even completed a five-year plan they’d made, with buying a house as the final step.

Bunnie also wanted to start her own podcast. Jelly Roll explained on The Howard Stern Show that when she left the sex work industry in 2019, he asked her what she was passionate about, and she said she’d love to host a talk show. She launched the Dumb Blonde podcast later that year.

Bunnie used money she’d earned to support Jelly Roll’s career. She invested in his 2017 album, Addiction Kills, and helped him with legal matters related to gaining custody of his daughter, as she revealed on Sofia Franklyn’s Sofia with an F podcast.

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 he admits to not being very present 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 realized they couldn’t provide a stable home for Bailee if they continued their own struggles with substance abuse, and she committed to sobriety.

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

Jelly Roll and Bunnie welcomed their son, Noah, around the time they were getting married in August 2016 and while Jelly Roll was navigating a custody battle for his daughter, Bailee. He shared his feelings on Facebook, hoping Noah would achieve more than he had and wouldn’t have to suffer for his past mistakes.

Over the years, Jelly Roll and Bunnie have generally kept Noah’s life private, but they’ve occasionally shared small updates. In July 2023, Bunnie posted a TikTok featuring Noah, asking him about his favorite things, like soccer and playing at the beach. She made sure to mention she had gotten permission from Noah’s mother before posting.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll have a good relationship with Noah’s mother, with Bunnie publicly praising her as a supportive presence in Noah’s life, especially given Jelly Roll’s busy touring schedule. Bunnie often expresses how much she enjoys being Noah’s stepmother, sharing her gratitude for the opportunity to watch him grow up and being thankful for his mother’s support.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie separated two years after getting married. Jelly Roll later admitted to infidelity as a reason for the split, calling it a low point in his life. He realized he was in love with Bunnie but had made a serious mistake.

Despite the hardship, the couple worked to repair their relationship and reconciled in 2018. Jelly Roll emphasized the effort they put into rebuilding, stating they are now stronger than ever. While he wishes the affair hadn’t happened, he’s proud of the couple they’ve become.

Bunnie reflected on their journey in a 2023 TikTok post, recalling their 2018 breakup and subsequent reconnection. She described their struggles as necessary for building a stronger, more solid foundation for their relationship, reaffirming her love for Jelly Roll.

As Jelly Roll’s popularity grew, he and Bunnie made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2022 CMA Awards. In the documentary Jelly Roll: Save Me, Bunnie described their relationship, saying, “We’re like the Addams Family in the country music world – we feel like outsiders, but we’re here anyway.”

Jelly Roll and Bunnie celebrated seven years of marriage in 2023 by renewing their vows. Bunnie remembered their original wedding day, recalling how Jelly Roll looked her in the eyes and promised to help her escape a difficult situation and 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 healthy, loving relationship, and to build a stable home for Bailee, their daughter. Through everything, they faced challenges together with smiles and unwavering support.

Bunnie lovingly described Jelly Roll as her perfect match, her safe haven, and her best friend, praising him as an exceptional man unlike any other.

I’ve been so inspired by Jelly Roll and Bunnie’s relationship – they truly have a beautiful harmony! It’s amazing to see how Bunnie has become his muse, actually inspiring songs like “Woman” and “Kill a Man.” Jelly Roll recently shared with Entertainment Tonight just how much she means to him. He’s always been a songwriter, but he struggled to write a love song that felt authentic to him – something that wasn’t cheesy but still captured the depth of his feelings. He realized he didn’t see anyone else in the world, and he wanted to express that vulnerability through his music. It’s so sweet! And their connection extends beyond songwriting – they’ve even starred in music videos together, including “Wheels Fall Off” and “Lonely Road,” which also featured Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox. It’s clear they’re a power couple both on and off screen!

I’m such a huge fan of Jelly Roll, and seeing his and Bunnie’s love story unfold is just incredible. I was so touched by what Bunnie shared about his journey – it wasn’t an overnight success, but twenty years of hard work and dedication. She described those early days, wondering if anyone was even listening, and then watching him fill arenas – it’s so inspiring! She really gets what he does; she says he pours his heart into his songwriting, creating these incredibly healing songs for people who are hurting, songs that truly see them. It’s beautiful. She calls him ‘Papabear’ and says his voice heals the world, and honestly, I couldn’t agree more! I love how supportive they are of each other. Jelly Roll is equally proud of Bunnie and everything she’s built with her podcast and on social media. He’s bursting with joy seeing how she inspires other women. They’re a perfect match, and their love is truly music to my ears.

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 his significant weight loss of over 200 pounds, explaining he had to step away from the internet due to the bullying. While Jelly Roll tries to hide the pain these comments cause, Bunnie shared 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 mentally. Bunnie vowed to always defend those who are targeted and won’t allow lies or bullying towards her family. Jelly Roll has also been open about his health struggles, recently revealing he was facing low testosterone and other concerns, and even felt like he was ‘dying.’

Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie, have been openly sharing their journey to expand their family. After Jelly Roll mentioned they’d been talking about having a baby, Bunnie revealed they’ve been undergoing IVF treatments. She explained on Instagram in June 2024 that they decided to share their experiences publicly, despite initially wanting privacy, because of 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. Bunnie discussed the emotional toll on her November 2025 podcast episode, expressing both hope and acceptance, saying they’re trusting in fate and open to adoption if needed. While it’s been difficult, they remain optimistic about growing their family, which already includes Bailee and Noah.

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2026-05-29 19:49