Jelly Roll breaks silence on shock Bunnie Xo divorce and shares emotional message to his 'soulmate'
Topics: Jelly Roll, Celebrity, Music
Phoebe Tonks
Featured Image Credit: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Topics: Jelly Roll, Celebrity, Music
Country music star Jelly Roll has officially spoken out following the shocking news of his divorce from Bunnie Xo, addressing the 'elephant in the room'.
For the last 24 hours, fans have been completely reeling after the 41-year-old 'Save Me' hitmaker filed for divorce from the Dumb Blonde podcast host, 46, after nearly a decade of marriage.
But while internet rumors immediately began swirling about what could have possibly destroyed country music's favorite ride-or-die couple, Jelly Roll - born Jason DeFord - marched right onto Instagram to set the record entirely straight.
In a raw, emotional statement posted to his stories, the Grammy-nominated artist completely backed up his ex-wife's earlier comments, shutting down any gossip of infidelity before it could take root.
"I wanted to jump on here and address the elephant in the room," Jelly Roll began. "First and foremost, nobody cheated on anybody. Please stop with the crazy internet rumors. Bunnie and I love each other deeply, and that will never change."
Addressing Bunnie’s explosive tell-all podcast episode directly, the singer expressed immense pride in how they handled what could have been a deeply messy public fallout.
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"If you listened to the Dumb Blonde podcast today, you know how real and honest Bunnie always is," he wrote. "We sat down like adults, we talked through our stuff, and we actually settled everything amicably in a matter of two weeks."
The speed of their legal separation is practically unheard of in Hollywood, but according to the country star, protecting their underlying friendship was always the absolute priority.
"We built an empire together, but more importantly, we built a family," Jelly Roll explained, referencing his children Bailee Ann and Noah Buddy, whom Bunnie helped raise. "She has been my rock for nine years, and she is a phenomenal mother and person."
The singer also touched upon perhaps the most shocking element of their split - Bunnie's confirmation that despite the divorce, they are still actively moving forward with their intensive IVF and surrogacy journey to welcome a baby together.
While he didn't dive deep into the specific medical timelines, his message made it clear that their vision for the future remains entirely unified, even if their living situation has changed.
Closing out his statement with a heartbreakingly sweet tribute, the country singer left fans with zero doubt about where they stand.
"Bunnie will always be my soulmate forever, even if our roles in each other's lives look a little different now," Jelly Roll concluded. "Please treat her with the utmost respect and kindness as we navigate this next chapter. Music Man out."
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo meet at one of the former’s shows at the Las Vegas Country Saloon. This was before Jelly Roll enjoyed mainstream success. He’s living in a van and only around 20 people are at the gig. They talk backstage. At the time, Bunnie is dating someone else.
Later, Bunnie splits from her ex and asks a friend to give her Jelly Roll’s number. Bunnie says Jelly Roll would call and text her for advice about his daughter, Bailee, from a previous relationship.
The pair’s relationship turns romantic when Jelly Roll travels to Vegas to film a music video and Bunnie offers to put him up at her place.
Jelly Roll proposes to Bunnie onstage at a Yelawolf and Deftones concert in Las Vegas. He tells her: “[I wanna know] will your fine a** marry my white trash a** tonight in Las Vegas?” That night, they tie the knot at The Little White Chapel.
Jelly Roll welcomes a son, Noah Buddy, with an ex. In 2016, Jelly Roll and Bunnie are also granted primary custody of Bailee due to her mother’s substance abuse issues.
Jelly Roll cheats on Bunnie, and the pair temporarily separate. Jelly Roll later calls the affair ‘one of the worst moments of his adulthood’.
He says he ‘did a lot of work to repair that relationship’ on the Human School podcast. They rekindle their relationship later that year.
Bunnie launches the Dumb Blonde podcast, which goes on to be a massive success, with Dolly Parton and MGK appearing as guests.
Jelly Roll’s music takes off in a big way. His single ‘Son of a Sinner’ hits No. 1 on Billboard's US Country Airplay chart.
Bunnie deletes her OnlyFans and leaves the sex industry behind.
Bunnie and Jelly Roll return to The Little White Chapel in Vegas to renew their vows.
Bunnie reveals on Instagram that the couple have decided to undergo IVF. She writes: “W/all odds stacked against us, it’s always been hard & we have only just begun.”
Bunnie says that following Jelly Roll’s 275 pound weight loss, his penis has gotten ‘severely bigger’.
The date of separation in Jelly Roll and Bunnie's divorce filing. Bunnie later reveals the couple have an argument, and she says in anger: “Well, then file the f**king divorce papers.”
Jelly Roll packs a bag and the couple don’t speak for weeks.
Jelly Roll files for divorce, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’.
Lawyer Holly Davis - who doesn’t represent either party - tells People: “It's a very neutral and agreement-oriented filing. It doesn't look like a contested divorce filing.”
Bunnie opens up on her podcast Dumb Blonde about the end of her marriage.
She says there was no cheating, and she and Jelly Roll are still planning to have a baby via IVF and co-parent it together.
Her IVF journey took a heartbreaking strain on her mental health, and she says it ‘wrecked me emotionally, spiritually, physically’.
She adds: “It was not mutual. Even though I told him to file the divorce papers, I was speaking out of anger and frustration. But was it necessary for us to have a wakeup call and to actually start having these real conversations? Absolutely.”
She says that Jelly Roll is already dating other people, and she is ‘excited to discover myself single’.
The same night, Jelly Roll addresses speculation around the divorce onstage at Saratoga Springs, New York, saying the internet ‘is a liar’.
He adds: “Me and my wife are best friends, we will always be best friends. I will love her. She will probably be the only woman I'll ever love the way I loved her.”