Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO’s divorce surprises fans after singer praises wife in emotional speeches
Renowned country music singer Jelly Roll has filed for divorce from his wife, Alisa Andrea DeFord, known as Bunnie XO, which caused a huge stir among his fans. The news comes to light after a series of public statements by the artist about the importance of Bunnie in his life and in overcoming several personal challenges.
Jason Bradley DeFord, the Grammy-winning musician’s given name, is the plaintiff in the separation lawsuit, which was filed in May in Williamson County, Tennessee. The document formalizes the end of his marriage to Alisa Andrea DeFord, who stood out by his side.
Known artistically as Bunnie XO, Jelly Roll’s wife is a digital influencer, model and host of the popular podcast “Dumb Blonde”, consolidating her own career in the media.
The couple’s love story, with its twists and turns, served as inspiration for several of the singer’s successful compositions, including the songs “Kill A Man”, released in 2024, and “Thorns”, scheduled for 2026.
The two met in 2015, when Bunnie attended one of Jelly Roll’s shows in Las Vegas, in a meeting that, at first glance, seemed unlikely.
The beginning of the relationship was described as predestined, but far from conventional standards. At that time, Jelly Roll carried an extensive criminal history, which began at age 14 and resulted in more than 40 stints in prison, as detailed in her 2023 documentary “Jelly Roll: Save Me,” while Bunnie was active as a sex worker.
A few years ago, during an appearance on the “King and the Sting” podcast, the singer revealed that he was not at the height of his career and was actually living in his van at the time they met.
“It’s a love story of poor, classless people,” he declared on the podcast, recalling the moment. “When I hugged her, I could feel her sincerity. I knew it wasn’t an act.”
Although Bunnie was in another relationship when they met, they kept in touch and, over time, the connection deepened until the two began dating.
Just over a year after their first meeting, Jelly Roll proposed to Bunnie on stage, during a show by the bands Yelawolf and Deftones, in Las Vegas, and the marriage was sealed in record time.
However, the relationship faced significant challenges, such as the birth of the singer’s daughter, Bailee, from a previous relationship, which occurred when the couple were already deeply in love.
Overcoming challenges and infidelity that rocked Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO’s relationship
Bunnie XO played a key role in supporting Jelly Roll, helping him financially and in the legal battle for custody of his daughter, Bailee, which he obtained in 2017. The wife dedicated herself fully to the child’s care after the legal victory.
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“I’ll never forget, Bunnie looked at me and — man, this makes me emotional — she said, ‘No matter what happens between us, I’m going to help you get the girl,'” he reported in 2023, during an interview on “Bussin’ With The Boys.” “And I was like, man, what a character, you know what I mean?”
Recently, Bunnie was the artist’s biggest supporter on his weight loss journey, in which he lost almost 136 kilos, starting from a starting weight of 250 kilos.
He publicly credited her with “saving” him, paying an emotional tribute to his “beautiful wife” in February after winning the Grammy for best contemporary country album for “Beautifully Broken” in 2026.
“I would never have changed my life without you,” said Jelly Roll, emotional and with tears in his eyes, during his acceptance speech. “I would have ended up dead or in jail. I would have committed suicide if it weren’t for you and Jesus. I thank you for that.”
This profound demonstration of loyalty and devotion explains, in part, why Bunnie remained by his side even after a separation in 2018, the result of the singer’s infidelity, an episode he described as “one of the worst moments of his adult life”.
In her recent memoir, “Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic,” Bunnie
“We both live by the motto that we are not each other’s property and consider our relationship to be free, not open,” she wrote, explaining the dynamics of their marital pact.
His own life, as described in his memoir and in an interview with People magazine, was marked by turmoil, including a difficult childhood, domestic violence, drug addiction, sexual assault and suicidal ideation.
“I was really seeking my father’s love from so many men, and it turned into a career. I thought I was regaining the power I had lost after the abuse I suffered, but in reality I was just in survival mode,” she revealed. “I let situations from my childhood embitter me as I grew up, and I want to take full responsibility for my actions. It’s important that, when giving your testimony, you tell everything: the good, the bad and the ugly.”
This perspective on life and overcoming influenced her decision to give her husband a second chance after his infidelity. While promoting her book on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” earlier this year, Bunnie said that, having been given several opportunities to start over, she felt she owed her husband the same.
“I gave it to him, and it was the best decision I ever made,” she said at the time. “Is he going to get a third? No way.”
So far, representatives for Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO have not responded to press inquiries about the divorce process.
