Country music star Jelly Roll and podcast host Bunnie Xo have become one of the internet’s most talked-about couples after news broke that they are divorcing after nearly a decade of marriage. The announcement has surprised many fans, not least because the pair have spent the past two years publicly renewing their vows, documenting their IVF journey and regularly describing one another as best friends and soulmates. Adding to the confusion, Bunnie has now insisted they are still planning to have a baby together despite splitting up. So who exactly are Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo, and what’s really going on?
Who are Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo?
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, is a rapper-turned-country singer from Nashville who rose from a troubled past that included multiple arrests and periods of incarceration to become one of America’s biggest music stars. After years releasing independent hip-hop mixtapes, he broke into the mainstream with songs including Son of a Sinner and Need a Favor before going on to win multiple CMA, CMT, and Grammy awards. Bunnie Xo, meanwhile, is a podcast host and internet personality best known for her hugely successful Dumb Blonde podcast, where she interviews celebrities, musicians and online creators.
The pair first met in Las Vegas in 2015 when Bunnie attended one of Jelly Roll’s shows. According to the singer, sparks flew almost immediately, although Bunnie was in another relationship at the time. After she became single, the friendship quickly turned romantic. A year later, Jelly Roll proposed to her on stage during a concert in Las Vegas before the pair headed straight to a courthouse and got married the very same night. As Jelly Roll’s career exploded, Bunnie became one of his biggest supporters, helping fund projects early in his career and playing a major role in helping him secure custody of his daughter, Bailee. She also became stepmother to Bailee and his son Noah.
What’s got people talking?
Fans were stunned when court records revealed that Jelly Roll filed for divorce in Tennessee on May 18 after almost 10 years of marriage. The timing came as a particular shock because the couple had spent much of the past two years publicly discussing plans to expand their family through IVF. Now Bunnie has revealed just how difficult that process became behind the scenes. Speaking on her Dumb Blonde podcast, she said the IVF journey had left her emotionally, spiritually and physically exhausted. ‘It was so hard on me that for the past year and a half, I became a shell of the person I was,’ she admitted. She also revealed that the couple lost four embryos during treatment and underwent three failed transfers. ‘Anybody that’s going through that and has to deal with these miscarriages — it’s gut-wrenching,’ she said. The revelation prompted an outpouring of support from fans, many of whom had no idea the couple had experienced such devastating losses.
Why are they divorcing?
Neither Jelly Roll nor Bunnie has publicly given a definitive reason for the divorce. However, Bunnie’s recent comments suggest the emotional strain of their fertility struggles played a significant role in changing the dynamic of their relationship. She explained that IVF had been incredibly difficult for both of them, even joking that fertility medication transformed Jelly Roll into ‘a freaking nightmare to be around.’ Despite the split, Bunnie was adamant there is no bad blood between them. ‘That’s my f***ing best friend, dude. Like, I love him,’ she told listeners. In perhaps the most surprising revelation of all, she also insisted they still plan to have a child together. ‘You guys are going to be shocked to hear this, but we’re still having a baby,’ she said. Bunnie described their relationship as unconventional and suggested their friendship remains stronger than ever despite ending their marriage.
Is Jelly Roll also being sued?
Yes, although not for anything connected to his divorce. In 2024, Jelly Roll was sued by a Pennsylvania wedding band called Jellyroll in a trademark dispute over the use of the name. The case was later settled out of court. The singer has also spent years overcoming legal troubles from his past. As a teenager and young adult, he was arrested multiple times and spent periods in jail before eventually turning his life around and building a music career. In December 2025, he received an official pardon from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
For now, though, fans seem far more focused on what happens next between Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo — particularly after Bunnie’s insistence that divorce won’t stop them from pursuing parenthood together.
