Jelly Roll Files for Divorce from Wife Bunnie XO After Nearly a Decade of Marriage

Country singer Jelly Roll has filed for divorce from his wife Bunnie XO in Tennessee, ending a marriage that spanned nearly a decade. The filing occurred in May, with sources describing the decision as mutual and a private family matter. The couple, who married in 2016, had previously acknowledged navigating significant relationship challenges, including infidelity and temporary separations.

Timeline and Background

The 41-year-old musician, whose legal name is Jason DeFord, officially filed divorce papers on May 18. His wife, Bunnie XO—real name Alisa DeFord—is a 46-year-old podcaster who previously worked as a sex worker before exiting the industry in 2023, years into the marriage. The couple first met in 2015, but their romantic relationship began the following year, leading to their August 2016 wedding.

The relationship has been marked by public candor about its difficulties. Bunnie revealed on social media that the couple briefly separated in 2018, describing the experience as necessary for rebuilding their foundation. More recently, Jelly Roll acknowledged in an October 2025 podcast appearance that infidelity played a significant role in their marriage challenges. He stated he had an affair and credited the couple's commitment to relationship repair work for eventually strengthening their bond.

Recent Developments and Family Plans

Despite their stated reconciliation efforts, the couple had been actively planning to expand their family. In February, Bunnie published a memoir in which she disclosed they had found a surrogate and hoped to welcome twins through in vitro fertilization. The same month, Jelly Roll won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Country Album, which he emotionally dedicated to his wife during the ceremony. That public gesture of affection preceded the May divorce filing by approximately three months.

Jelly Roll has two children from previous relationships: an 18-year-old daughter, Bailee Ann, and a 9-year-old son, Noah Buddy. The couple had not announced plans regarding custody arrangements or other divorce settlement details as of the public disclosure of the filing.