Why Jelly Roll’s Wife Bunnie Xo Says She’s Never Dated For Looks

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Bunnie Xo is reminding everyone that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Bunnie XO, who has been married to Jelly Roll since 2016 and wrote the book Stripped Down, recently responded to someone suggesting looks are key to finding love. She explained that she’s never prioritized physical appearance when choosing a romantic partner.

Bunnie wrote in a column for Playboy on April 14th that physical appearance isn’t the most important thing in a relationship. She explained that she’s always been attracted to how a man makes her feel, not how he looks.

The 46-year-old, who shares parenting responsibilities for Jelly’s children Bailee Ann, 17, and Noah, 9 (from other relationships), strongly believes it’s a harmful idea to base romantic attraction on someone’s physical appearance.

She advised that if someone is only interested in your appearance, it’s time to find a partner who values more than just looks. Physical attractiveness changes over time, and when you’re building a long-term relationship, it’s unrealistic to expect someone to stay ‘hot’ forever. It’s important to be with someone who you can grow old with, beyond just physical attraction.

As for what should be important? Bunnie (real name Alisa DeFord) advised, “Make a woman laugh.”

Bunnie is living by her own advice. While her husband, Jelly (whose real name is Jason DeFord), continues to lose weight, she politely responded to a fan who commented that the “Wild Ones” singer looked much more attractive after losing over 120 pounds last year.

She shared on TikTok in September that his core personality hasn’t changed. She added that he seems much healthier since losing weight.

The host of the Dumb Blonde podcast urged people to stop pretending everything is perfect, referencing the romantic comedy Shallow Hal starring Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow.

She pointed out that people could miss out on true love by focusing on someone’s weight. She shared that her husband had personally experienced this judgment, and she’ll always support him, regardless of his size.

For a deeper look into Jelly and Bunnie’s relationship, keep reading…

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 there were only about 20 people in the audience.

Despite their initial differences – Bunnie said he wasn’t her type and she wasn’t his (he preferred Taylor Swift!) – they felt an instant connection. She described it as an incredibly cliché, but undeniable soul recognition.

However, a romance didn’t begin immediately. Bunnie was in an unhealthy relationship, and Jelly Roll was focused on his own life. They reconnected in October 2015, and Bunnie quickly fell for him. After her ex-partner went to prison, she asked a friend to give Jelly Roll her number. 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 very 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 plans quickly. They got married in Las Vegas in August 2016, and Bunnie shared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast that they completed their five-year plan exactly as intended, with buying a house as the final step.

Bunnie also wanted to start her own podcast. Jelly Roll explained on The Howard Stern Show in June 2024 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 the money she 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 shared 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 him coming into her life around age two, as he was starting his music career and living in a van. Although he admits he wasn’t always there for her, Jelly Roll fought for full custody when Bailee’s 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. Bunnie questioned whether they were fit to raise Bailee given their own struggles with substance abuse, and she decided to get sober, stating she never took another pill.

Bunnie also embraced a motherly role, and in 2024, for Bailee’s sixteenth birthday, she thanked Jelly Roll for allowing her to be the mother she never had, and Bailee for teaching her valuable life lessons 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 on Facebook, writing, “God Bless this Child to be everything I am not!” and expressing his wish that Noah and Bailee wouldn’t suffer for his past mistakes.

Over the years, Jelly Roll and Bunnie have generally kept Noah’s life private, though they’ve occasionally shared small updates. In July 2023, Bunnie posted a TikTok video featuring Noah, asking him about his favorite sport (soccer) and beach activities (playing in the water). She emphasized that she had gotten permission from Noah’s mother before posting.

Bunnie and Jelly Roll maintain a good relationship with Noah’s mother, whom Bunnie describes as a wonderful person. She’s grateful for her support with Noah, especially since Jelly Roll and Bunnie travel frequently for work.

Bunnie cherishes her role as Noah’s stepmother. She shared on Instagram in October 2024, after Noah attended one of his dad’s concerts, that watching him grow up is a true joy and a privilege, and she’s thankful for both Noah and his mother.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie separated in 2018, two years after getting married. Jelly Roll later revealed he had been unfaithful, admitting it was a low point in his life. However, the couple worked through the issues and rekindled their relationship later that year. He said the process of repairing their relationship made them stronger than ever, and while he wishes the affair hadn’t happened, he’s proud of where they are today. Bunnie echoed this sentiment in a 2023 TikTok post, recalling their breakup and subsequent reconciliation, stating that they finally fulfilled promises made early in their relationship and built a stronger foundation together.

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 seven-year anniversary in 2023 by renewing their wedding vows. Looking back, Bunnie remembered Jelly Roll promising her on their wedding day that things would get better and they would overcome the challenges they faced. He kept that promise.

Bunnie described the past seven years as a difficult but rewarding journey. They worked hard to heal from past traumas, learn healthy ways to love, and build a stable home for her daughter, Bailee. Through everything, they faced challenges together with strength and positivity.

Bunnie lovingly referred to Jelly Roll as her soulmate, safe haven, and best friend, praising him as an exceptional man and her hero. She expressed her deep gratitude and affection for him, acknowledging how rare someone like him is.

It’s just… everything about them is perfect! They’re so in love, and it’s seriously the sweetest thing ever. I mean, Bunnie is his muse! She’s the inspiration behind some of his most incredible songs – “Woman” and “Kill a Man” are just the beginning! He told Entertainment Tonight she’s the best, and how he’s tried to write a million love songs but they all felt cheesy until he thought about her. He wanted to be real, you know? To show how deeply he feels without losing himself. He literally said he doesn’t see another woman on Earth! It’s so vulnerable and honest. And it’s not just the music! They’re amazing on screen together too – remember “Wheels Fall Off” and “Lonely Road” with Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox? Seriously, they’re couple goals and I can’t get enough!

Bunnie is a constant supporter of her husband, Jelly Roll, whether she’s in the audience at his shows or watching from home. She publicly praised him during the 2024 CMT Music Awards, acknowledging his twenty-year journey to success. She recalled times when they worried no one was listening, contrasted with the excitement of performing in packed arenas.

Bunnie highlighted Jelly Roll’s songwriting, describing how he creates deeply moving music that connects with people who are struggling, offering them comfort and a sense of being understood. Their strong relationship is admired by fans.

She affectionately called him ‘Papabear’ and expressed how his voice is a source of healing, with the world as his audience. She declared her love for him, not just in this life, but in any future lives they share.

Jelly Roll is equally supportive of Bunnie, praising her success on social media and with her podcast, and expressing how much joy it brings him to see her inspire others, particularly women.

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 he had to step away from the internet due to the bullying. While Jelly Roll doesn’t always show it, Bunnie says these comments deeply affect him. She pushed back against 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 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 issues, and even 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 revealed they’ve been undergoing IVF treatments. In a June 2024 Instagram post, she explained they decided to share their experiences because of their openness with fans, and acknowledged the difficulties they’ve already faced. They are also exploring surrogacy as an option, as Bunnie explained on her podcast Dumb Blonde in March 2025, due to health risks associated with her carrying a child herself. Despite the challenges, Bunnie remains optimistic, stating on her November 2025 podcast that they are trusting in God’s plan and are open to adoption if IVF and surrogacy aren’t successful. They both unexpectedly felt a desire to add another child to their family, alongside their children Bailee and Noah.

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2026-04-14 22:48