Celebrity5 min(s) read
Published 11:33 18 Jun 2026 GMT
Inside sources have spoken out for the first time over Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo's divorce, claiming to know the true reasons behind the split.
Real name Jason DeFord, the country artist filed for divorce from his wife of almost 10 years back in May at a Tennessee court, according to TMZ.
He cited "irreconcilable differences" in official court filings, further claiming that he and Bunnie, real name Alisa DeFord, were "unable to live together successfully as husband and wife."
It further explained that the split was a "mutual decision by the two and a private family matter," with news of the 41-year-old's filing only surfacing this week.
The couple may have remained active on social media, but no statements directly addressing the situation have been released.
But over 10 years after meeting each other, some sources claim to know the truth behind the breakdown of the highly publicized relationship.
As Bunnie, 46, has previously been open about all aspects of their relationship, the news came as a shock to fans.
Jelly met Bunnie at one of his concerts in Las Vegas in 2015, as he was living in his van and had allegedly been in and out of jail 40 times, according to the Daily Mail.
At the time, Bunnie was a "high-class" escort, and the couple would make it official the following year, and she stayed by his side as he went on to win three Grammy Awards as one of the most successful country stars in the world.
Bunnie retired from sex work in 2023, committing herself to being a stepmother to Jelly's two children from previous relationships, Bailee Ann, 18, and son Noah Buddy, nine.
The pair also had issues with drug addiction, tied to Jelly's months-long affair, which he would admit to, but after working through that, it was expected that the couple would go the distance.
One source told the Daily Mail: "You couldn't tell he was going through something. If the divorce was on his mind, you'd never have known."
But other insiders claimed that there was clear reasoning that led to Jelly's decision, with one of the main points being the artist's shift to Christianity.
Following his Grammy win for best contemporary country album in February, he held a Bible and told the crowd that "Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label."
This new direction has created a night-and-day difference from his past, while also setting himself apart from his wife's previous escorting and online sex work.
Bunnie may have quit, but her Dumb Blonde podcast features several NSFW topics including her sex life and spicy social media posts, which may have started to cause a stir at home.
Hours before the divorce was made public, Bunnie posted a revealing snap on her Instagram story, wearing only a satin bralette and matching thong.
Another insider told the publication: "There is just such a conflict in what's going on. He's preaching this Christian way of life. She's posing mostly naked and talking about porn and penises on her podcast.
"At every turn, she's just kind of embarrassing him and wrecking every PR narrative that they're trying to create. This is the talk of the town [in Nashville]."
Christian music has officially hit the mainstream, becoming a prominent part of life in Nashville, as a source added: "There's so much money in [Christian music], but [his renewed faith] is just an act in my opinion.
"He saw a lot of money in this market and told Bunnie to get it together. But she wouldn't stay in line and it is destroying his brand," they added.
The same source claimed: "He saw a lot of money in this market and told Bunnie to get it together. But she wouldn't stay in line and it is destroying his brand.
"She just wants to be what she is. She's been an escort and in porn and gets her validation and audience from being in a G-string. That's been her life but now, suddenly, he's a preacher and she's a preacher's wife."
Their lifestyles have seemingly caused a clash, though there has also been a disagreement about expanding their family.
Bunnie has previously opened up about undergoing IVF after finding out her fallopian tubes were blocked, but the treatment was ultimately unfruitful.
Efforts to find a surrogate also amounted to nothing, as an insider said: "Both [she and Jelly Roll] wanted more children, but disagreements over timing and his increasingly demanding career have created ongoing tension.
"Ultimately, he felt it wasn't wise to move forward with having more kids when the stability of their relationship remained uncertain, and they seemed destined to keep repeating the same cycle."
The source added: "Their relationship has always been passionate but turbulent, with frequent almost-breakups followed by intense reconciliations."
