What Bunnie Xo Shared About Jelly Roll in Her New Book Stripped Down

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As the saying goes, when you know, you know. 

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative love can be, and Bunnie Xo’s story is a perfect example. She’d been through so much – a difficult upbringing with a stepmom, heartbreaking abuse, unhealthy relationships, and a teenage experience that deeply affected her. But when she met Jelly Roll in a Las Vegas bar back in 2015, something shifted. Despite everything she’d endured, she instantly felt a sense of hope. As she shares in her new book, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, that moment truly changed her life.

She wrote that she was completely captivated. He wasn’t at all the kind of man she usually went for, but when they shook hands, she felt an incredible, almost cosmic connection. It was like she’d known him forever and had been searching for him her whole life.

But it wasn’t just the fact that they were meant to be together ’til the wheels fall off. 

The host of the Dumb Blonde podcast, who was working as an escort at the time, believed the musician (whose real name is Jason DeFord) would become very successful.

Bunnie DeFord told TopMob News at the 2026 Grammys, just before her husband, a country music star, won three awards, that they’d been discussing how surreal their life together had become. “It feels like a crazy fairytale,” she explained. Her husband admitted he hadn’t predicted this level of success, but Bunnie said she had. She recalled telling him on the very first night they met that he was special, and she truly believed it then.

But that doesn’t mean they immediately rode off into the sunset. 

In the beginning of her book, the author, age 46, explained that while she’s grateful to have found her husband, their relationship wasn’t instantly perfect – it wasn’t a fairytale from the start.

After ten years together, they’ve faced challenges, even considering separation at times. But through time, growth, and a strong connection, they’ve built a stable life with his children, Bailee, 17, and Noah, 9. She feels grateful to be able to raise their daughter in a loving environment, but acknowledges that achieving their happy family wasn’t simple.

They might have been worried and hoping for the best, but they’re still working together. To understand their story, check out her book, Stripped Down.

In August 2015, Bunnie Xo was already in a relationship when she met Jelly Roll. He was performing as an opening act for the Moonshine Bandits at the Las Vegas Country Saloon, and the encounter would later become well-known as Jelly Roll rose to fame in country music.

He completely broke down her defenses and captured her heart. As she later wrote in her memoir, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, she was, in her own words, “mesmerized.”

She admitted he wasn’t the kind of person she usually went for, but the moment they shook hands, she felt an incredible connection. It was like a powerful, instant recognition – a feeling that she’d known him forever and had been searching for him her whole life.

She doesn’t remember the specifics of his performance, but she took lots 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 chats. She’d often be with someone else when he called, but 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 boys with a goth or emo look—but J wasn’t really my style, and I didn’t think I was his either. So, I have no idea why I felt such an instant connection with him the moment we met. It just didn’t make any sense.

Okay, so after meeting him at this amazing honky-tonk, things just… exploded. Seriously, the connection was unbelievable! We couldn’t even control ourselves, we were all over each other all night. It was electric, I’m telling you!

Bunnie recounted returning to her Las Vegas penthouse, where she initiated intimacy with a man by removing her clothes and beginning to undress him, but he did not reciprocate.

He then asked about her plans for the future, specifically what she hoped to achieve in the next five years. “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 started sharing all my hopes and dreams with him.”

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

Bunnie wrote that they spent hours together, imagining their future and how they could fit into each other’s lives. She described it as a completely open and honest conversation – the most honest she’d ever had.

Bunnie observed that J was unlike anyone she’d ever known, but she still felt a connection to him. She admitted he fit her usual type – a tattooed man with a criminal past and history of drug dealing. However, she also saw that he was working to change his life and move in a positive direction, 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 she explained, “I told him I was a sex worker, and that I earned a good income. There are different levels within this profession, and I would consider myself one of the more exclusive providers.”

And Jelly certainly did. 

She said he wasn’t bothered at all. He told her, ‘I respect your drive. You’re a hard worker, and I have no issue with how you’ve made a living.’ She added that from the very beginning, he never judged her for the things she did to get by.

When she started traveling with him, she updated her website with her tour dates to let clients know where she’d be. As Bunnie explained, she was completely booked with appointments even before her plane touched down in each city.

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 either one trying to change the other.

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

I’ve always been one for doing things on a whim, and honestly, this was exhilarating! The energy was incredible, and I was completely swept up in it. I knew it probably wouldn’t end well—it was almost guaranteed to be a disaster, really—but it was such a blast while it lasted, and I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.

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!”

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 angry and wondering if getting married had been a mistake.

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 made it clear he only would have married her if he truly meant it.

Bunnie explained that J instantly eased all of her anxieties with just one sentence. She’d always lived a life where nothing felt truly permanent—even relationships could end easily, and no one seemed to envision a future with her. But J was different; he saw potential for a lasting connection.

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

She’s always been attracted to guys with a bit of an edge. “Before me, J was a womanizer,” Bunnie admitted. “He was seeing multiple women for years at the same time.”

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

Let me tell you a little about Jelly Roll’s past. Before me, he and his son’s mother were on and off for about ten years – a really long time! It was a pretty difficult relationship, honestly, but they both really wanted to do right by their son and co-parent as best they could. Actually, she was already quite far along in her pregnancy – around eight or nine months – when Jelly and I started dating.

Bunnie admits things were difficult with her husband’s former partner at first, but now she genuinely loves her. She’s grateful to have someone who understands their child as well as she does, and appreciates the wonderful person and mother she has become.

When Bunnie first met Bailee, who was only seven years old at the time, Bailee may have actually helped Bunnie avoid making some bad decisions.

You know, shortly after Jelly Roll and I got married, we were in the process of gaining full custody of Bailee. Her birth mother was struggling with a really difficult battle with addiction, and we were stepping up to provide a stable and loving home for our daughter.

Bunnie began each day by taking a combination of medications – 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 make a change.

She explained she didn’t want to make things even harder for the child. Getting sober, she believed, would prevent her from causing further emotional harm.

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.

Even though Bunnie was determined to travel with Jelly Roll all the way to his home in Tennessee, it was hard for her to leave Las Vegas.

Bunnie admitted she was feeling homesick and overwhelmed by the demands of being a full-time mother, 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, and she was suddenly facing a lot of responsibility and a lot of boring routines – things she’d successfully avoided since leaving home at fourteen. She realized 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, referring to them as being ‘among the chasms’ in her life.

After a lot of fights with Jelly Roll, Bunnie woke up a few days following Bailee’s tonsil surgery and decided to leave. She later realized how important family is, saying, “I truly believe I would never abandon them,” but admitted she did that day. She explained that despite any reasons she might try to come up with, her decision came down to being incredibly scared.

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 attempt to make up for leaving Bailee and his father. She wanted to show them she was committed for the long haul, proving it through her actions rather than just words.

Honestly, it was a total surprise! Jelly Roll, or J as I call him, suddenly changed his mind about things. I really didn’t see it coming at all. It just happened so quickly!

Five months after moving to Las Vegas, Jelly Roll told Bunnie they were going back to Nashville. She later discovered the real reason for the move wasn’t what he told her. 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 realized both she and Jelly Roll were still dealing with past emotional pain and hadn’t fully learned how to love in a healthy way.

Honestly, even though I could tell he wasn’t thrilled about me coming with them to Tennessee, I just couldn’t say no. I had to go. I mean, after everything, I just told him, ‘I wasn’t going to abandon our little family ever again.’ It felt so good to finally say it, like I was making a promise to all of us, and especially to him. I’d never let anything separate us again.

Bunnie explained that she believed allowing other women into their sexual encounters would protect her from future infidelity, based on past experiences. However, she clarified that they didn’t have an open relationship; they simply wouldn’t usually object if someone her partner wanted to bring home with 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 hurt her feelings – 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 they shouldn’t control each other, and they see their relationship as committed, but not one where they have complete freedom to do as they please.

Bunnie made it clear that while she valued their freedom, honesty was non-negotiable. She insisted, ‘Just don’t ever lie to me, and always be upfront with me about everything.’

As a longtime fan, I’ve been following everything with Jelly Roll, and I definitely got the sense something was off with one of his exes. She really seemed to be intentionally bothering me for a whole year, constantly referencing his music and even flaunting his merchandise online. It was like she wanted me to know she was trying to get a rise out of me, posting little digs in her picture captions because she knew I suspected something was going on. It was incredibly frustrating, but I just couldn’t find any concrete proof of what she was up to.

Bunnie explained that when she confronted Jelly Roll with her concerns, he would manipulate her into questioning her own sanity and believing she was wrong to doubt him.

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’d feared – he wasn’t coming back.

Bunnie shared that she had considered suicide that night. She explained the pain she was feeling was overwhelming and she just 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 a few months before doing so.

Bunnie explained that after everything that happened – the disagreements, the pain, and all the turmoil – she’d finally had enough of J. 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 recounted how he told her a story – “about a drug dealer’s daughter he met at a bar” – and she readily believed it.

Until a random number began blowing up his phone. 

It suddenly occurred to me,” Bunnie said. “It was him—her old casual boyfriend. He was still involved somehow, 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 both and expected her to stay home and care for his daughter, Bailee. She said what bothered her most wasn’t a physical affair, but the emotional betrayal and the idea of him wanting another woman to be a mother figure to a child she loved.

Bunnie explained that even after forgiving Jelly Roll, the experience left a lasting impact. “You don’t stop loving someone who’s hurt you, but your love changes,” she said. “It makes you more cautious, less willing to fully trust, and a little broken inside.”

Let me be real with you, things definitely weren’t smooth sailing. We didn’t just magically bounce back to how things were before. Honestly, things got heated, and I’ll admit, I lost my cool at one point. I actually punched Jelly Roll in the back after he said he didn’t regret his actions – it was a tough moment, and I’m owning up to that.

Honestly, after discovering the affair, I knew healing wouldn’t be quick. It wasn’t just about forgiving; it was about rebuilding trust and genuinely believing he loved me, not a version of me that was easily replaced. It was going to take years to feel secure and truly loved, to know I wasn’t just someone he could discard.

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, but even then, there was no guarantee she could get pregnant. Thankfully, advances in IVF, combined with the incredible generosity of a surrogate willing to carry twins, made their dream of having a baby possible.

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, and she’s excited to watch their children grow up and experience life.

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2026-02-17 11:19