In the glittering, high-stakes world of modern country music, few stories are as gritty, authentic, or deeply moving as the decade-long odyssey of Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO. Long before they were walking the red carpets of the CMA Awards or topping the Billboard charts, the couple—born Jason DeFord and Bunnie—were two souls navigating the fringes of society, searching for a purpose that neither could have anticipated. Today, they stand as a testament to the power of radical honesty, the breaking of generational curses, and a brand of love that Bunnie famously describes as "playing Twister" in their earlier, more tumultuous years. Their evolution from a struggling musician living in a van and a high-end escort to a powerhouse entertainment duo is a narrative of redemption that has resonated with millions.
The spark that ignited this "wild journey" occurred in 2015 at the Las Vegas Country Saloon. At the time, Jelly Roll was far from a household name; he was a burgeoning artist performing for crowds of twenty people, earning $500 a night, and calling a white van his home. Bunnie, though attending the show with another man, felt an immediate, metaphysical pull toward the singer. She later described the encounter as a moment of profound recognition, noting that their souls seemed to simply say, "There you are." Despite the fact that neither fit the other’s typical "type"—Jelly Roll has humorously noted his penchant for the Taylor Swift aesthetic—their connection was undeniable. What began as a friendship eventually transitioned into a romance in July 2016, setting the stage for a partnership that would require both of them to confront their pasts and rewrite their futures.
The early days of their marriage, which took place at the Stained Glass Wedding Chapel in August 2016, were defined by a shared "five-year plan" and a series of daunting life transitions. Jelly Roll was open with Bunnie about the complexities of his life, including his history with incarceration for robbery and drug-related charges, which made securing housing nearly impossible. Furthermore, he was in the midst of a high-stakes battle for full custody of his daughter, Bailee, whose mother was struggling with addiction. Just a week before their wedding, Jelly Roll also welcomed a son, Noah, from a previous relationship. In a moment that Jelly Roll describes as a defining display of character, Bunnie didn’t blink. She doubled down on her commitment, bankrolling the legal fees for his custody battle and helping him secure a condo, famously telling him that regardless of their romantic outcome, she was committed to helping him save his daughter.
This period marked a turning point for the family. Bunnie, who had her own struggles, chose to leave behind her past life and unhealthy habits, including substance use, to provide a stable home for Bailee. She stepped into a maternal role that she describes as a "healing life lesson," ultimately becoming the mother figure Bailee needed. This selfless transition allowed Jelly Roll to focus on his music, which began to pivot from underground hip-hop to a soulful, genre-bending country sound that spoke directly to the "misfits" and the broken. Bunnie’s belief in his vision was so total that she invested her own earnings into his 2017 album, Addiction Kills, effectively serving as the primary engine behind his early career momentum.
However, the road to becoming "the Addams Family of the country era" was not without its potholes. In 2018, the couple faced a significant crisis that led to a temporary separation. Jelly Roll has since been candid about his greatest adult failure: an affair that nearly ended their marriage. He admitted that the infidelity blew him back, forcing him to realize how much he truly loved Bunnie and how much work he needed to do on himself. The repair of their relationship became a cornerstone of their shared history. They chose to fight for their union, eventually reconciling and rebuilding their "castle in the sand" on more solid ground. This transparency regarding their flaws has only strengthened their bond with their audience, who see in them a reflection of real-world relationships that require grit and effort rather than just "butterflies and rainbows."
As Jelly Roll’s career exploded with hits like "Need a Favor" and "Son of a Sinner," the couple’s public profile shifted from outliers to icons. Yet, even with the success, the shadows of the past remained. Jelly Roll has been vocal about the physical and mental toll of his lifestyle, revealing that at his heaviest, he felt himself "dying." This realization sparked a massive health transformation. After struggling with low testosterone and the weight of public scrutiny, Jelly Roll has lost more than 200 pounds. His goal is as ambitious as his music career: he aims to grace the cover of Men’s Health by March 2026, showcasing one of the industry’s most dramatic physical and lifestyle overhauls.
Throughout this health journey, Bunnie has remained his fiercest defender. In early 2024, she took to social media and her own Dumb Blonde podcast to slam the "internet bullies" whose comments about Jelly Roll’s weight led him to retreat from social media platforms. Bunnie’s protective nature highlights the unique dynamic of their partnership—she is not just a spouse but a guardian of his peace. Her own professional ascent has been equally impressive. Having launched the Dumb Blonde podcast in 2019, she has built a massive platform where she interviews a wide array of guests with the same unfiltered honesty that defines her marriage. Her upcoming memoir, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, promises to provide even more insight into the woman who helped build an empire from the back of a van.
Looking toward the future, the couple is navigating a new and deeply personal chapter: the quest to expand their family. They have been open about their IVF and surrogacy journey, a path they chose to share publicly to support others facing similar fertility challenges. Bunnie has clarified that surrogacy is a medical necessity for her, as carrying a child would pose too much risk to her health. Despite the emotional and physical hurdles of the process, they remain steadfast in their faith, stating that if biological expansion isn’t in the cards, they are fully open to adoption. For them, family is not defined by blood alone, as evidenced by their "bonus baby" Noah, whose life they keep largely private out of respect for his mother, with whom they maintain a positive and supportive co-parenting relationship.
The story of Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO is a modern-day fairytale, albeit one with tattoos, grit, and a healthy dose of reality. From their 2023 vow renewal at the same Las Vegas chapel where they first wed, to their collaborative music videos featuring stars like Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, they continue to bet on each other. Bunnie often reflects on their early days in Vegas, bewildered by how their "five-year plan" manifested into a life of filled arenas and therapeutic music that heals the "cracks in the souls" of their listeners. Their journey suggests that no matter how many generational curses one is born with, it is possible to break them through love, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to one’s "twin flame." As they continue to conquer the entertainment world, they do so hand-in-hand, proving that real relationships aren’t about perfection, but about the work it takes to stay together until the wheels fall off.
