Many factors caused the 2023 CMT Music Awards to garner media attention. The vocalist of “You Oughta Know,” Alanis Morrisette, received a leg up, and Miranda Lambert, a favourite of country music fans, was absent from the performance.
In addition to that, it was a first-time experience for Jelly Roll, the stage name of vocalist Jason DeFord. It was Jelly Roll’s first time participating in a national broadcast, his first award ceremony, and his first time being nominated since he gained notoriety in 2010 by collaborating with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte on the song “Pop Another Pill.”
Bunnie Xo DeFord, the self-described Trailer Park Barbara Walters and host of the Stupid Blonde podcast, was right there by his side, encouraging him even though Jelly Roll had a brief moment of self-doubt. According to Jelly Roll, his wife told him, “Hey, this is your prize, you should look up,” in a post-award interview with the Austin American-Statesman. “I was saying, “No, trust me,” without even glancing up. There is no way in hell I’m winning this.” A short while later, Jelly Roll was receiving his second prize of the evening, followed by another.
Long personal notes, public shows of adoration, and classic TikTok comedy characterise their adorable courtship. Here is a journey down the DeFord road without further ado.
Table Of Content
- 1 They met when he was homeless
- 2 He was accepting of her sex work past
- 3 They did drugs together
- 4 Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo got married in Vegas
- 5 The couple’s relationship is open
- 6 Their public image has gotten in the way of parenting
- 7 Jelly Roll encouraged his wife to post explicit content
- 8 The couple broke up briefly in 2018
- 9 They had the same (mid) morning routine during quarantine
- 10 The family experienced major losses in 2022
- 11 He supported her through an implant removal surgery
- 12 Bunnie Xo is Jelly Roll’s biggest cheerleader
They met when he was homeless
Bunnie Xo has frequently been accused by social media sleuths of being with Jelly Roll for financial gain, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. When she first met her future spouse, there was no gold to be found. The “Son of a Sinner” singer was having trouble making ends meet.
During The Golden Hour podcast, Jelly Roll admitted, “I was, like, travelling, living in, like, a ’97 high-top Southern Comfort camper and was, like, a** broke when I met her.
Years later, when he thought back to the situation, Jelly Roll remembered that the two had been in problematic relationships at the time. He revealed to Taste of Country that genuine energy served as the cornerstone of their connection. None of them were acting hypocritically. The sympathetic Jelly Roll said, “I felt her spirit.” “I could just tell she was sincere when I hugged her. It wasn’t acting, I could tell that.”
He was accepting of her sex work past
Any suggestions that Jelly Roll’s future wife was a gold digger are immediately disproved by the fact that she was swimming in cash when he first met Bunnie Xo. Bunnie Xo was dealing with who’s who in the corporate world and earning thousands of dollars while doing so, while Jelly Roll was a small-time artist making at least $100 per show. On the Stupid Blonde podcast, Bunnie Xo admitted, “I would literally make $30,000-$40,000 a night.” “I had sugar daddies who gave me $500,000 each. I’ve had diamonds, jewels, and cars purchased for me. Just, think of anything.”
She left the past behind when Jelly Roll entered the picture, mostly because she was now responsible for her stepdaughter Bailee Ann DeFord. She also didn’t hold anything back from her future husband, who welcomed her with open arms despite having his own flaws. “I was unable to grasp the idea. I used to sell f*****g old Southern crack, “On Bertcast, Jelly Roll made a comment. “Youngster attempting to become a rock star. I know and I’m just like, “I don’t get this,” but I wasn’t bothered by it.”
They did drugs together
The start of Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo’s romance read like a scene from “The Wolf of Wall Street.” The DeFords snorted cocaine and popped pills like they were hanging on by a thread, just like Jordan Belfort and his gang (Leonardo DiCaprio). During his participation on the Bertcast, Jelly Roll recalled, “The difference between me and her was, she was wild.” “She fed me only nails of cocaine during our [likely first five] encounters at casinos. Then at the end of the evening, I would ask, “Have a Xanax?” And she would respond, “Yes!””
Taking Xanax wasn’t an occasional occurrence for Bunnie Xo. She was so dependent on the tranquillizer that she overdosed. Her late mother’s tender devotion was ultimately what helped her rediscover her bearings. “There was a moment in my life when I was really addicted to Xanax, and I would call my mom when I finally made the deliberate decision to stop using it. This is the one reason why I appreciate my mum so much. Every night at two or three in the morning, I contacted my mother while sobbing uncontrollably. I even said to her, “I don’t want to become like you,” “In a Dumb Blonde podcast episode from April 2020, Bunnie Xo provided narration and added that her addiction had interfered with her friendships.
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo got married in Vegas
Contrary to what the general public believed, Bunnie Xo was the one who approached Jelly Roll. “We shared pals. She said, “Hey, just hook me in with Jelly,” and I smacked her with other stuff in response. Hey, I’m trying to get out there and shoot some content,’ I said “On The Golden Hour, Jelly Roll related a story.
He continued by saying that their wedding was a spontaneous adventure. In front of the audience at a Yelawolf and Deftones concert, Jelly Roll got down on one knee. She accepted his proposal after it was made. The couple decided to jump the same night despite the fact that it was getting close to midnight. They had become Mr. and Mrs. DeFord by first light.
According to Bunnie Xo’s podcast, this was her third marriage. She first got married in order to aid her then-husband in escaping from prison. He had to spend time in jail because the stunt was a failure. They existed for exactly six months. After five years in her second marriage, Bunnie Xo decided she was tired of being the breadwinner while her husband put in little effort. Jelly Roll demonstrated that luck was on his side after all.
The couple’s relationship is open
Jelly Roll’s 2018 chat with 247HH suggests that the marriage between Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll is open to outsiders. “We welcome ladies into our relationship, my wife and I. It’s sort of like the “Rescue Me” “singer distributed. “We are similar to Beauty and the Beast, therefore I think it’s nice. She’s like this stunning blonde, and I’m like this really overweight, unattractive guy.”
The unorthodox connection between Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo is not without its own set of rules. First of all, it works both ways. On her show, Bunnie Xo said, “We allow each other to be who we want to be. “I can go sleep with another guy if I want to,” he said. Second, only women are allowed on group hookup calls, and Bunnie Xo’s needs come first. Until she meets Jason Momoa or Jax Teller, no boys are allowed; in that case, the guidelines will need to be revised.
Their public image has gotten in the way of parenting
Bailee Ann DeFord, the daughter of Jelly Roll, was given custody by the DeFords, and Bunnie Xo immediately went into parental mode. Although Bailee’s biological mother, who had staged a heroin-induced disappearing act at the time, is a notch up from the ex-escort and started an incredibly successful podcast, her brand remains filthy. Similar to this, Jelly Roll’s parents are aware of his lack of saintliness on social media.
Jelly Roll complained to Taste of Country, “These friends’ mothers will allow Bailee play with their kids, but won’t let their kids come to my house.” “They mark the boundary there. They exclaim, “Aaah! Nope! His wife wears provocative clothing, and he uses marijuana and drinks in public. You won’t be going there.”
As Bailee celebrated her twelfth birthday with pals back then, the moms may have had a different viewpoint. Her biological mother, who had been sober for a year and three months, was also reunited with her.
Jelly Roll encouraged his wife to post explicit content
Her hubby had accepted the concept long before Bunnie Xo was putting it all out for her social media followers. She revealed in a Facebook post that when she joined OnlyFans, he was there by her side, hand-selecting the greatest content to publish.
Jelly Roll co-signed his wife’s music while speaking with the “Shimmy Down My Chimney” vocalist on the Stupid Blonde podcast. I abhor the criticism you receive, he said. First of all, do you really believe that I’m such a f*****g pushover that we wouldn’t be dating if I had a problem with it?
His wife agreed wholeheartedly. In a different episode, Bunnie Xo claimed that their way of life is open and without secrets. As Jelly Roll’s tour was cancelled because to the Covid-19 pandemic, getting an OnlyFans account made financial sense for the pair as well.
The couple broke up briefly in 2018
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo temporarily parted ways in March 2018. Bunnie Xo, who was visibly upset, used the internet to inform her YouTube subscribers of the terrible news. “It’s been challenging, but ultimately for the best. I’m also not going to discuss the reason for our separation. He has his version, I have mine, but hopefully we will become friends someday “She made this statement about her partner, who had since left their shared home.
Bunnie Xo’s decision to move to Austin and Las Vegas, where the majority of her pals were already settled, suggested that the separation was final. Fortunately, the two separated for a brief period of time. They were able to make things right following their vacation to Vail, Colorado, and Jelly Roll was eager to resume his journey. “Greetings, bubble bear. I apologise for frequently acting like an a**hole. I f*****g missed you so badly. Let’s resume kicking asses “On a vlog, he stated.
They had the same (mid) morning routine during quarantine
As he mentioned when offering advice to musicians on Digital Tour Bus, Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo have a fruitless run while on tour. The pair frequently found themselves at the mercy of girls who led them on, only to find themselves bar hopping at dawn.
But, during quarantine, everything calmed down and the pair had some free time. They would share a breakfast together at noon to start their mornings. “J and I have a set wake-up hour because of our schedules. He always gets up before me, and I follow suit about one hour later. Now, we awaken at twelve “In a podcast interview with her husband, Bunnie Xo revealed.
When Jelly Roll playfully hinted at having no morning ritual through Twitter in August 2020, disclosing that he almost always woke up with a hangover that needed treating, the artist lifestyle became even more unpredictable.
The family experienced major losses in 2022
The DeFord family suffered the loss of two members in November 2022. Twitter was used by Jelly Roll to share: “I received the news that my nephew had passed away the day I performed as the headliner at Red Rocks; I still put on a concert; I saw my nephew in a coffin the day I performed at Rome River Jam; and I still killed it. Last night, my wife rocked Estero, Florida while we took her to say her final goodbyes to her mother.”
When Bunnie Xo was merely a youngster, her biological mother abruptly left her life. Her father, and then her stepmother after her father remarried, spent the most of her childhood taking care of her. The mother-daughter team didn’t get back in touch online for more than twenty years.
“I believe she discovered me because she once appeared on my screen and said, “Hello, this is your mum.” Oh f*** your own self, I said.” Her podcast was narrated by Bunnie Xo. Despite the harsh introduction, the two were able to meet and remain in contact. The loss of Bunnie Xo’s mother shattered her heart. With an Instagram post, she described the severity of the situation, writing, in part, “Love you Mama, see you on the other side.”
He supported her through an implant removal surgery
Bunnie Xo revealed on Facebook in October 2019 that she will be removing her breast implants in order to reduce the size of her bust. “Are I afraid? Yes. Nervous? Absolutely. Nonetheless, I’m going to rock it no matter how big my t**s are “She wrote only in part, expanding on body image-related difficulties. Bunnie Xo continued by saying that it took a year for Jelly Roll to notice her makeup-free face since she was so self-conscious in the beginning of their relationship.
She posted videos of the procedure on YouTube, giving her viewers a front-row ticket to Jelly Roll’s affectionate side. He accompanied his wife to the hospital, gave her a shoulder to cry on when she became overcome with emotion, and waited until the two and a half hour procedure was carried out.
Once she uploaded her implants to TikTok in 2022, Bunnie Xo’s would subsequently garner attention for their mouldy condition. The vocalist of “Bring Your Parcel To Me” got them removed after more than ten years due to health reasons.
Bunnie Xo is Jelly Roll’s biggest cheerleader
Jelly Roll’s life has taken a completely different course as a result of his wife. As Bunnie Xo entered the picture, Jelly Roll’s career began to flourish. He went from working a lot of concerts for a maximum of $200 in salary to filling arenas. Bunnie Xo supports her partner on social media after each successful performance, posting passionate posts, taking behind-the-scenes videos for her followers, and building anticipation for a performance.
Jelly Roll’s career as a performer came full circle in October 2022 when he visited Bunnie Xo’s hometown of Las Vegas as a successful artist. But the burden of the situation fell on his wife. “I left this city seven years ago broken and lost in order to pursue a dream with a man I had only known for 30 days. The most empowering feeling ever is returning to the city that tried to break me, healed, and on our own terms “Part of what Bunnie Xo posted on Instagram.
Bunnie Xo, who was once again in the spotlight as he was honoured for the mastery of his trade at the CMT Music Awards, delivered yet another heartfelt statement after Jelly Roll’s epic victory, comparing him to a rose that emerged from concrete.
Being a binge-watcher himself, finding Content to write about comes naturally to Divesh. From Anime to Trending Netflix Series and Celebrity News, he covers every detail and always find the right sources for his research.
