Jelly Roll’s wife Bunnie XO opens up about addiction and sobriety journey
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Bunnie XO was sure of one thing: Faith got her through the darkest times of her life.
The “Dumb Blonde” podcast host and wife of Jelly Roll recently wrote a memoir: “Striped: Unfiltered and Unapologetic.” In this book, she reveals her chaotic upbringing and the emotional ups and downs that defined the early years of her relationship with the singer-songwriter.
“I’m like a cat,” the 46-year-old told Fox News Digital. “I’ve had nine lives, and I truly feel like God has always had His hand on my life. Even when I wasn’t worthy and didn’t accept Him, He was always there in some way. Even when I did things He didn’t want me to do, He still always pulled me out of it.”
CARRIE UNDERWOOD WARNED HOLLYWOOD IS A ‘SELF-SERVING BUSINESS’, CREDITS Faith FOR KEEPING HER Afloat
Bunnie XO and Jelly Roll are seen at the “Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic” book tour at The Palazzo Theater on February 26, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
“My confusion became my message and my testimony,” she shared. “I feel like really leaning on God was the only thing that got me out of some of the situations I got myself into.”
Bunnie XO poses for her 2024 CMT Music Awards portraits at the Moody Center on April 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (John Shearer/Getty Images for CMT)
In her book, Bunnie describes how her faith guided her through the darkest moments of her life and served as a source of strength. She also describes experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault in a past relationship.
When asked if faith could have saved his life, he answered without hesitation, “100%.”
WATCH: JELLY ROLL ‘SHOWS THE ONE THING THAT STILL MAKES MY SKIN comb’
“I feel like we all need something to believe in,” he explained. “If there was no hope in the world, the world would be worse off than it is right now. And I think faith gives people a kind of hope. I believe the power of Jesus is real. I saw it. I felt His hand.”
Bunnie admitted she hit rock bottom “a few times” but said, “I never wanted to change.” In the book, Bunnie describes turning to pills, cocaine and alcohol to escape reality and numb the effects of the trauma caused by her upbringing.
Bunnie XO compiled booking photos from previous arrests for a special project on social media. (BunnieXO/Instagram)
“I think people need to hit rock bottom a few times before they say, ‘I’m tired. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired,'” he reflected. “And I think after I finally had some time to look around, I thought, ‘If I keep going down this path, I’m either going to die or become another statistic of a working girl in Vegas.'”
Bunnie XO’s song “Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic” is out. (Dey Street Books)
“I didn’t want this to be my life story,” he said. “I never wanted to be my mother, and I was just kind of following in her footsteps.”
Growing up, Bunnie, whose real name is Alyssa DeFord, was close to her late father but struggled to connect with her stepmother. people magazine reported. According to the report, his mother separated when he was just three months old and they did not reconnect until he was 22 years old. His mother died in 2022.
Bailee Ann DeFord (L) and her stepmother, Bunnie (John Shearer/Getty Images)
The outlet shared that Bunnie left home at age 14 and later endured an abusive relationship until she met Jelly Roll at a concert in Las Vegas in 2015. The couple got married in 2016.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Jelly Roll and Bunnie (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
In the book, Bunnie described herself as “a well-adjusted bride” after Jelly Roll “specifically asked me not to give a blowjob before the wedding.”
“…I was programmed to rebel against anyone who said no to me,” he told Fox News Digital. “… I always had this inner fire of not listening to direction or not being able to take direction well. That definitely hindered me in life because I was a rebel without a cause.”
Bunnie XO at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas. (Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images)
“And I think that night we… I didn’t take him seriously. … I didn’t know my husband well enough to know that when he said something he meant it. So I was just doing more of what I always do.”
Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO attend the 68th Annual Grammy Awards held at Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for the Recording Academy)
“If I was drunk, I’d drink a Coke and take a Xanax,” he recalled. “I’m grateful to still be here after mixing drugs for so long.”
According to People, Bunnie previously worked as a high-end escort and built a lucrative career in sex work before leaving in 2020. He was also active on OnlyFans until 2023.
WATCH: JELLY ROLL AND BUNNIE XO WALK THE RED CARPET TOGETHER AT THE 2025 ACM AWARDS
“… I’m just telling my story and I don’t mean to praise [sex work] “Either way, because there’s nothing fancy about selling your body,” she explained. “But when you’re in survival mode, you teach yourself ways to get through life… without feeling guilty about some things, I guess.”
DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
In “Stripped Down,” Bunnie XO reflects on her painful past and the resilience that helped her heal. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
“… I’m 46 now and I look at my 26-year-old self who had this mentality,” he continued. “I just want to hug him because I want to say, ‘This wasn’t strength. This was you calming down the abuse you were experiencing and trying to find a way to empower yourself.’ “It really didn’t give me strength.”
Today, Bunnie focuses on her career and family. She got candid about how sobriety wasn’t easy and shared that becoming a better stepmother to Jelly Roll’s daughter, Bailee, was a major turning point in her decision to get sober.
Bunnie 22, 2026. (John Shearer/Getty Images)
“I think sobriety is a personal journey, and I think sobriety is different for every person,” he explained. “It’s not black and white. Sobriety for me means I can’t take Xanax. I don’t take any pills. I don’t snort anything. I can’t even do a sinus cleanse right now because I have PTSD from all the meds I’m on.”
Bunnie XO is the host of “Dumb Blonde,” which focuses on unfiltered conversations with guests. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
“I quit drinking in 2018, but I’ll have one every blue moon; we were in Rome and I was very honest with the public about it. When I was in Rome, I had a glass of wine because I was like, ‘Dude, I’m in Rome. I’m going to have a glass of wine.’ But that’s all I can get, a glass of wine.”
Bunnie emphasized that sobriety can look different to many people, adding that her approach may not reflect other recovery journeys.
Bunnie XO attended the 2024 Musicares Person of the Year Gala held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 2, 2024. (Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
“Everyone has their own definition [their sobriety journey]. Some people can’t have a glass of wine in Rome and I 100% respect that. But for me, getting sober was a choice. … It was probably one of the most rewarding journeys I’ve ever been on.”
CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Bunnie (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
“But I also always tell everyone: ‘Sobriety sucks, because that’s when the real work starts.’ “You start to feel the emotions you suppressed and numbed with substances.”
Now Bunnie can’t wait to see what the next chapter will bring for her.
Bunnie (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
“I really hope [my book] It will touch everyone… and tell them it doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter who told you you’ll never be of any use. If I can do it, you definitely can too. I promise you.”
