Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo's surprising marriage rules as unconventional relationship ends
Topics: Celebrity, Music, US News, Entertainment, Sex and Relationships
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA
Topics: Celebrity, Music, US News, Entertainment, Sex and Relationships
A series of controversial comments that Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo made about their relationship have been unearthed in light of their divorce.
The country musician, 41, filed to end his 10-year-long marriage in Williamson County, Tennessee, back in May, as per court documents obtained by PEOPLE this week.
According to The Sun, Jelly, real Jason Bradley DeFord, cited 'irreconcilable differences' as his reason for the split, adding that he and Bunnie had been 'unable to live together successfully as husband and wife'.
In the paperwork, he also asked the court to grant a Martial Dissolution Agreement that will create an 'equitable division of the parties' assets', including their Nashville mansion and a 500-acre farm.
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Despite the seemingly amicable reason behind their break-up, question have been raised over possible infidelity on either of the couple's part, being that they previously disclosed they're in an open relationship.
In 2021, during an episode of her hit podcast, 46-year-old Bunnie announced that she and Jelly were now in an open marriage.
"We allow each other to be who we want to be," she unexpectedly told listeners. "If I want to sleep with another guy, I can go sleep with another guy.
"Like, that’s not a problem."
Bunnie later emphasised in her memoir: "We live by the motto that we aren’t each other’s possessions and consider our relationship to be free, not open."
Despite these comments, Jelly and media star Bunnie, real name Alisa DeFord, split temporarily in 2018 after the singer and rapper was caught in a major 10-month cheating scandal, two years after their 2016 wedding.
No one was aware of the incident until 2024, however, given that pair quickly rekindled their romance.
"Who knew that us breaking up in 2018, me moving back to Vegas & you coming to get me back — would have put us on this wild journey called life," Bunnie wrote on Instagram in 2024.
Jelly confessed to the cheating last year during an appearance on the Human School podcast.
"I don’t talk about this publicly at all but one of the worst moments of my adulthood was when I had an affair on my wife," he admitted, adding that they'd since worked through their problems, and were now 'stronger than we could have ever been'.
Since then, and until their latest relationship woes, had seemed a picture of marital bliss.
As their divorce proceedings continue, it's reported that Jelly is being represented by high-profile Nashville attorney Rose Palermo, who has worked on a number of celebrity divorces, including Billy Ray Cyrus’ split from Firerose.
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’.
Jelly Roll files for divorce.