Country star Jelly Roll has filed for divorce from Bunnie Xo after nearly 10 years of marriage — just months the couple publicly shared plans to welcome twins through surrogacy. Here’s what we know about the filing details, their past struggles with infidelity, and what happens next under Tennessee law.
The Divorce Filing: When and Where
Jason DeFord, 41 — known professionally as Jelly Roll — filed for divorce from his wife Alisa “Bunnie Xo” DeFord, 46, in Williamson County, Tennessee. Multiple outlets report the filing was dated May 10 or 18, 2026, with sources differing on the exact date.
The couple married in 2016 and had been together for roughly a decade. Neither Jelly Roll nor Bunnie Xo had issued a public statement on the filing at the time of the latest reports.
What Happens Next Legally
Tennessee law requires a mandatory 90-day waiting period for contested divorces involving couples without minor children together. The timeline can shift depending on how assets, custody, and any shared business interests are resolved — and with the couple’s co-branded podcast and live appearances, those shared interests could add complexity.
IVF and Surrogacy Plans Now in Limbo
In February 2026, Bunnie Xo sat down on “The Howard Stern Show” to reveal the couple had secured a surrogate and were hoping to welcome twins. She described it as the next chapter after years of financial and emotional rebuilding.
“Now that we’re finally stable financially and somewhat emotionally after all the healing we’ve done over this decade together, we’re talking about the future — including growing our family,” she said at the time.
The couple’s surrogacy and IVF plans are now in legal and reproductive-law limbo. Disposition of frozen embryos or surrogacy agreements typically requires court intervention or mutual consent during divorce proceedings. Neither party has publicly addressed the status of these arrangements since the filing.
An Affair, a Vow Renewal, and a Grammy Dedication
In October 2025, Jelly Roll admitted on the “Human School” podcast that he had an affair on Bunnie Xo, calling it “one of the worst moments of my adulthood.” He said the betrayal led to intensive work to repair their relationship.
“I did a lot of work to repair that relationship… we’re stronger than we could have ever been,” he said. “I wish our story had gone the way that it never had an affair.”
Bunnie Xo offered her own account on “The Howard Stern Show” in February, calling the affair “one of the darkest times of my life” and saying she was “so devastated” she never expected it from him. Despite the pain, the couple renewed their vows in Las Vegas in 2023.
Jelly Roll also dedicated his 2026 Grammy for Best Contemporary Country Album to Bunnie Xo, who was visibly emotional in the audience — making the divorce filing four months later all the more jarring.
A Decade of Highs, Lows, and a Shared Brand
The pair met around 2015, when Bunnie Xo was in another relationship. After that ended, she pursued a connection with Jelly Roll, who has said he was “ass broke” when they first got together.
“She’s my best friend, she supported me and she helped me get my music career really up and going,” he said on the King and the Sting and the Wing audio show.
Jelly Roll is already a father to two children from previous relationships: Noah Buddy and Bailee Ann. Bunnie Xo served as stepmother to both. Over the years, the couple built a joint brand across music, podcasts, and social media, frequently appearing together at public events — making the business side of this split a key question going forward.
What Remains Unanswered
With co-branded appearances, podcast collaborations, and intertwined social media presences, the divorce raises concrete questions about how shared business interests will be divided. No details about any commercial settlements have been made public.
Neither Jelly Roll’s nor Bunnie Xo’s representatives responded to requests for comment. How — or whether — either party addresses the split publicly remains the biggest unknown in what has already been a turbulent year for the couple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when did Jelly Roll file for divorce from Bunnie Xo?
Jelly Roll filed for divorce from Bunnie Xo in Williamson County, Tennessee. Multiple outlets reported filing dates of either May 10 or May 18, 2026.
Have Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo released a public statement about the divorce?
No. At the time of the latest reports, neither party had issued a public statement on the divorce filing. Representatives for both also did not respond to requests for comment.
What is their surrogacy plan status after the split?
In February 2026, Bunnie Xo confirmed the couple had secured a surrogate and hoped to welcome twins. Whether those plans will proceed following the divorce filing remains unknown, and neither party has addressed the matter publicly since.
How did infidelity affect their marriage?
Jelly Roll admitted on the “Human School” podcast to having had an affair, calling it one of the worst moments of his adult life. Bunnie Xo described it as “one of the darkest times of my life” on “The Howard Stern Show.” Both said they did significant work to repair the relationship and renewed their vows in Las Vegas in 2023.
What is Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo’s history together?
The two met around 2015 and married in 2016. Over nearly a decade, they built a shared public brand spanning music, podcasting, and social media. Jelly Roll is also father to two children from prior relationships: Noah Buddy and Bailee Ann.
