Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo’s nearly decade-long marriage is officially over, with a Tennessee court finalizing their divorce on July 17th.
Jason DeFord — known professionally as Jelly Roll — filed for divorce from his wife, Alisa DeFord, known publicly as Bunnie Xo, on May 18th. Court documents cited irreconcilable differences. The split came just two months short of what would have been their tenth anniversary, and the news landed hard for fans who had followed the couple closely throughout Jelly Roll’s rise in country music.
Two Public Statements, One Painful Story
Jelly Roll addressed the divorce for the first time during a concert in Saratoga Springs, New York, telling the crowd to be skeptical of what was circulating online. He spoke warmly and with finality about his former partner: “That will be my best friend forever. This is the only time I will ever speak about it. Bunnie, I love you, baby. Thank you for those 10 years. They were incredible. Thank you for the next 10 years of friendship, and 20 beyond that.” He also directed fans to Bunnie’s podcast, saying every word of it was the truth.
Bunnie Xo released her own account on June 18th through an episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast titled “The Divorce,” which she later deleted two weeks after publication. In it, she acknowledged that the split was not mutual but said she respected her ex-husband’s decision and believed they were ending things in the best way possible. She revealed that the couple had been undergoing IVF treatments and that the losses of multiple pregnancies had worn heavily on their relationship, leaving her feeling like a “shell of who she was.” A fight on Mother’s Day, May 10th, ultimately led Bunnie to leave their home and tell Jelly Roll to file for divorce — which he did.
Settlement Terms and What Each Takes Away
TMZ reported the finalization on July 17th, noting that the former couple had reached a settlement agreement earlier that month. The full terms are confidential, but court documents obtained by the outlet show that assets divided between them include an aircraft, vehicles, multiple homes, and their respective intellectual properties. Bunnie disclosed in her podcast episode that Jelly Roll was signing over to her the dream home the two had been building on their Tennessee compound. He has also agreed to pay her a one-time lump sum, the amount of which has not been disclosed, with no alimony to follow. The settlement additionally includes a mutual non-disparagement clause barring either party from speaking negatively about the other.
With both parties bound by that agreement and Jelly Roll having declared he will not address the matter publicly again, further comment from either side appears unlikely — leaving fans to follow whatever comes next for each of them separately.
