Jelly Roll Shares He Was Hospitalized Amid Bunnie Xo Breakup

Jelly Roll is getting by with the help of his friends.

Just days before announcing his divorce from Bunnie Xo, the singer of “Need A Favor” revealed he’d been sick with an infection that required hospitalization. He also shared how Post Malone, a fellow musician on tour with him, supported him through it all.

Jelly Roll shared in a TikTok video from June 11th that he visited a hospital in Charlotte last night. He thanked the staff for helping him recover enough to perform his show, even though he had a swollen face and a severe sinus infection. He said it was a really tough situation.

Although Grammy-winning artist Jason DeFord is recovering from an illness, it affected Florida Georgia Line’s recent tour. He was only well enough to perform his solo tracks at their concert on June 9th.

He said it was the first time on tour with Post Malone that he hadn’t been able to perform ‘Losers.’ He barely made it through his own show, and the next day, Post sent him a large flower arrangement with a note saying, ‘Get well soon, Mofo. Love Ya.’

I truly mean it when I tell the audience that Post Malone is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met,” he said. “Despite being a huge star, he’s incredibly down-to-earth. I really appreciate him!

Just days before news of their split became public, Jelly Roll shared details about a recent hospital stay. He officially filed for divorce from Bunnie on May 18th, stating in court documents that their differences couldn’t be resolved.

Jelly Roll, who has two children – 17-year-old Bailee and 9-year-old Noah – from previous relationships, continued with his tour even while dealing with a breakup. He even performed in Toronto on June 15th, just a day after the news of the split became public.

Neither the singer nor his wife, Alisa DeFord (known as Bunnie), have commented on the reported filing. However, he was seen at the CMA Fest a couple of weeks ago without a wedding ring. Shortly before the news became public, Bunnie, who hosts the Dumb Blonde podcast, posted a suggestive photo on Instagram with the caption, “She’s getting her sparkle back.”

As Jelly Roll and Bunnie focus on their new normal, keep reading for a look back at their romance.

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 at the show.

Despite their initial differences – Bunnie admitted he wasn’t typically her type, and he was a fan of Taylor Swift – they felt an instant connection. Bunnie described it as feeling like she’d found who 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 calling and texting 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 five-year plan. After discussing their goals, they decided to pursue a relationship.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll followed through on their initial plans as a couple. They married in Las Vegas in August 2016, just a month after they first got together, and completed all the goals they’d set for themselves over the next five years – culminating in buying a house together, Bunnie shared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast.

Bunnie also had her own ambitions. After leaving sex work in 2019, she launched the Dumb Blonde podcast later that same year. Jelly Roll explained on The Howard Stern Show that he’d asked Bunnie what she was passionate about after she transitioned careers, and she expressed a desire to host a talk show.

Bunnie financially supported Jelly Roll’s career as well, investing in his 2017 album Addiction Kills and helping him with legal matters regarding custody of his daughter, as she revealed on Sofia Franklyn’s podcast Sofia with an F.

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 present as a father, he fought for full custody of Bailee when her mother struggled with addiction.

Interestingly, it was Jelly Roll’s then-girlfriend, Bunnie, who financially supported his legal battle for custody. This led both of them to re-examine their own lives. 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, becoming a mother figure to Bailee. In 2024, for Bailee’s sixteenth birthday, Bunnie expressed her gratitude to Jelly Roll for allowing her to be a mother and thanked Bailee for the valuable 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 in a Facebook post, stating he wanted Noah to be everything he wasn’t and that neither of his children would 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 herself asking Noah about his favorite things – soccer and playing in the water – but emphasized she had gotten permission from Noah’s mother before posting.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll have a good relationship with Noah’s mother, with Bunnie describing her as a wonderful person they couldn’t imagine their lives without, especially since she provides consistent care for Noah while Jelly Roll is on tour.

Bunnie cherishes her role as Noah’s stepmother. She expressed on Instagram in October 2024, after Noah attended one of his dad’s concerts, how grateful she is to be a part of his life since birth and how thankful she is for his mother’s support.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie separated two years after getting married, but later reconciled. Jelly Roll has publicly admitted to being unfaithful during their marriage, calling it a difficult moment where he realized how much he loved his wife and feared they couldn’t fix things.

Despite the infidelity, they worked hard to repair their relationship, eventually rekindling their romance in 2018. He says this process made them even stronger as a couple, though he wishes the affair hadn’t happened. They are proud of the people they are today and remain deeply committed to each other.

Bunnie shared on TikTok that their breakup in 2018—followed by her effort to win him back after he moved to Las Vegas—led them on an incredible journey. She explained that their initial foundation needed to be broken down so they could rebuild a stronger, more lasting relationship, expressing her deep love for him.

As Jelly Roll became more famous, he and his wife, Bunnie, made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2022 CMA Awards. In his 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 love by renewing their vows in 2023, seven years after their original wedding.

Bunnie fondly remembered their first ceremony, recalling how Jelly Roll looked her in the eyes and promised to support her through difficult times and help them build a better life together. He certainly kept that promise.

The past seven years have been challenging but rewarding, filled with personal growth and overcoming past traumas as they worked towards creating a stable and loving home for their daughter, Bailee. Bunnie described it as a ‘whirlwind dark fairytale,’ emphasizing that everything they’ve achieved has required hard work and dedication.

Bunnie expressed her deep affection for Jelly Roll, calling him her soulmate, safe haven, best friend, hero, and the greatest man she knows. She feels he is truly one of a kind.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie continue to have a loving relationship. Bunnie has even been the inspiration behind some of his songs, like “Woman” and “Kill a Man.”

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight about “Kill a Man,” Jelly Roll said Bunnie is “the best” and explained he’d tried writing countless love songs but found them all cheesy. He wanted to create something that showed how deeply he feels for her while still feeling authentic to himself. He emphasized that he only has eyes for her and wanted the song to reflect that 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 fan, always supporting him whether she’s at his shows or watching from home.

She celebrated his 2024 CMT Music Awards nomination by sharing how proud she is of his twenty-year journey to success. She recalled times when they wondered if anyone was listening, contrasted with the incredible feeling of performing in packed arenas.

Bunnie admires Jelly Roll’s songwriting, describing his music as healing and deeply relatable for those who feel broken. She says his songs offer comfort and make people feel understood.

The couple’s strong bond is inspiring to their fans. Bunnie affectionately calls him “Papabear” and expresses her enduring love, saying she wants to be with him in this life and all others.

Jelly Roll also champions Bunnie’s accomplishments, praising the positive impact of her social media presence and podcast, especially how she inspires other women. He shared these thoughts while celebrating their eighth anniversary.

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 led him to step away from the internet.

On her podcast Dumb Blonde, Bunnie shared how deeply these comments affect Jelly Roll, despite him not always showing it. She emphasized that celebrities are just as vulnerable to harm as anyone else and urged people to stop online bullying, reminding listeners that you never know what someone is going through mentally.

Bunnie made a strong commitment to defending those who are targeted, stating she will always fight for the underdog and won’t allow lies or attacks against her family. Jelly Roll has also been open about his health struggles, including low testosterone, telling Joe Rogan 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 explained they’ve been undergoing IVF treatments. She shared on Instagram in June 2024 that they decided to be open about the process because of their honest approach to life, and acknowledged the difficulties they’ve already faced.

Bunnie also discussed exploring surrogacy, explaining on her podcast, Dumb Blonde, in March 2025, that she is unable to carry a child due to health risks. Despite the challenges, they remain optimistic. On a November 2025 episode of Dumb Blonde, Bunnie expressed their faith, saying they’re trusting in God’s plan and are open to adoption if needed. While they’re excited about the possibility of adding to their family with Bailee and Noah, they also recognize the emotional complexities involved.

Jelly Roll and his wife are getting divorced. Court documents in Tennessee show he filed in May 2026. Shortly before the news became public, his wife, Bunnie, shared a message on Instagram with a photo of herself, writing, “She’s getting her sparkle back.”

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2026-06-18 00:18