5 minutes read
Jelly Roll's divorce filing from Bunnie Xo reveals reason for split
.webp_ke6C2y?tr=w-96,f-webp,q-70){kind=small}
Asiya A.
Newly revealed divorce documents have shed light on why Jelly Roll decided to end his marriage to Bunnie Xo after nearly a decade of marriage.
The country superstar, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, filed for divorce from his wife on May 18 in Williamson County, Tennessee, citing "irreconcilable differences".
According to the court filings, the 41-year-old stated that he and Bunnie, whose legal name is Alisa Andrea DeFord, 46, had been "unable to live together successfully as husband and wife," per The Sun.
The 'Wild Ones' musician listed May 9 as the date of their separation, just days before officially filing for divorce.
The filing came as a surprise to many fans, particularly after the couple appeared as loved-up as ever at the Grammy Awards in February.
High-profile lawyers brought in as divorce proceedings begin
The artist has enlisted Nashville attorney Rose Palermo to represent him during the proceedings.
Palermo is known for handling several high-profile celebrity divorces, including Billy Ray Cyrus' split from Firerose, Kristin Cavallari's divorce from Jay Cutler, and Maren Morris' breakup from Ryan Hurd.
In the filings, he asked the court to approve a Marital Dissolution Agreement that would allow for an "equitable division of the parties' assets".
The pair share significant property holdings, including a mansion in Nashville and a 500-acre farm outside the city.
Shortly after the divorce filing was submitted, Bunnie responded through her legal team, Neil Campbell and Marykate E. Williams of Campbell Perky Johnson, PLLC.
TMZ later reported that the separation was a "mutual decision by the two and a private family matter."
Social media posts spark speculation
Hours before news of the divorce became public, Bunnie shared a series of cryptic social media posts that quickly caught fans' attention.
One post featured a photo of the podcast host posing in lingerie while removing a bra strap.
The image carried the caption: "She's getting her sparkle back," accompanied by Metric's song 'Help I'm Alive'.
Around an hour later, she shared a screenshot of a text message that read: "Come here, let me show you what love feels like." The post was paired with J. Cole's 'Power Trip'.
Bunnie also reposted a Snoop Dogg Instagram Reel featuring the text: "'You're embarrassing cut it out.'"
The video continued: "Me about to take it up a notch:" alongside footage of a dancing monkey.
The couple overcame major struggles during their relationship
The pair first met at one of Jelly Roll's performances at Las Vegas' Country Saloon in 2015 before beginning a relationship shortly afterward.
About a year later, the 'All My Life' singer proposed on stage in Las Vegas, and the couple eloped in a courthouse ceremony the very same night. In 2023, they returned to the same Las Vegas chapel to renew their wedding vows.
Throughout their marriage, Bunnie often spoke openly about the challenges they faced as a couple, including a difficult period following Jelly Roll's alleged infidelity.
"When I found out about it, I was devastated," she said earlier this year. "I was hurt because I didn't think he would be the one person to do that. I thought he was different. And at that moment, my heart was broken."
She reflected on their unconventional beginnings, saying: "I think a lot of people need to realize that coming into this marriage, we weren't a traditional bride and groom.
"I was a working girl, and he was an ex-drug dealer – a gangster-turned-struggling artist," she added.
The popular podcast host also recalled a disastrous marriage counselling session that nearly ended their relationship.
"It was stepping on a grenade. We were just screaming at each other," she said. "We left that therapy session that day, and I was like, 'This is it. We're never going to be together again.' And I think he felt the same way, too."
Despite those struggles, the couple remained together and even documented Bunnie's lengthy IVF journey as they tried to have a child together.
Court documents note that they have no children together, although the 46-year-old became a stepmother to Jelly Roll's children, Bailee and Noah.