Country rock star Jelly Roll and podcaster wife, Bunnie Xo, file for divorce

American rapper and singer Jelly Roll has filed for divorce from his wife, podcaster Bunnie Xo.

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, and Bunnie Xo — real name Alisa DeFord — had been married since 2016.

Jelly Roll, 41, is known for his country rock hits like Son of a Sinner and Need a Favor. According to Williamson County, Tennessee court records viewed by CBC News, Jelly Roll filed for divorce on May 18, citing "irreconcilable differences."

The couple married in 2016, and renewed their vows in 2023. They have no children together, but Jelly Roll has two children from previous relationships.

TMZ was first to report the story.

Bunnie Xo, 46, is the host of the Dumb Blonde Podcast, where she interviews guests from the music and entertainment industries, and runs a production company called Dumb Blonde Productions. In February she released a memoir, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, which details her life "from the trailer parks of Vegas to the mansions of Nashville," according to a book description.

Before his rise to country rock stardom, Jelly Roll had a troubled life, including a robbery conviction at 17 and drug charges at 23. He developed a passion for music and songwriting while incarcerated.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee pardoned Jelly Roll for his criminal past last year following a recommendation from Tennessee’s parole board.

In a speech after he won best contemporary country album for his album Beautifully Broken at the 2026 Grammy Awards, Jelly Roll credited his wife for helping him recover from the drug addiction that plagued him earlier in life.

"I want to thank my beautiful wife — I would have never changed my life without you. I'd have ended up dead or in jail," he said.

WATCH | Jelly Roll on his journey (from 2024):

From 14 to 25, Jelly Roll began cycling in and out of prison for various offences, including felony charges. In the years since getting out, he’s gone from rapping to singing, ultimately finding a home in country music. He sat down with Tom Power to share his incredible story.

The couple have spoken about relationship issues in the past. Jelly Roll said in a podcast interview last year that he had an affair, calling it "one of the worst moments of [his] adulthood." Bunnie Xo said in a TikTok post in 2024 that the couple had broken up in 2018.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo have not yet commented publicly about the divorce. Recent posts on Jelly Roll’s social media profiles document his efforts to lose weight, while Bunnie Xo most recently posted a video of her lip-syncing Nickelback's How You Remind Me.