A Decade Down: Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo Call It Quits

Ten years can feel like forever when you’re building a life with someone—and sometimes, it’s long enough to know when that chapter needs to close. Rapper Jelly Roll (real name Jason Bradley DeFord) has filed for divorce from his wife Bunnie Xo (real name Alisa DeFord) after nearly a decade of marriage, according to court documents filed in Tennessee on May 18.

The two had a Las Vegas love story that seemed destined for permanence. They met at one of Jelly Roll’s concerts in 2015, and by August 31, 2016, they were exchanging vows at the iconic Little White Wedding Chapel. It was the kind of whirlwind romance that makes for great stories—stage-to-altar, dreams aligning, partnership beginning. For years, they appeared to be riding the wave together as Jelly Roll’s career trajectory shifted significantly.

But marriage, even one that starts with that kind of spark, requires constant tending. The pressures of the entertainment industry, the demands of public scrutiny, and the grinding reality of everyday life can erode even the strongest foundations. While the specific reasons for the split remain undisclosed, the filing itself is a quiet but decisive statement that this version of their story has reached its end.

What happens next—both legally and personally—will unfold in court. For now, this is described as a developing story, meaning the details and potential statements from both parties are still to come. The public loves a redemption arc, and Jelly Roll’s narrative has been compelling. But sometimes the most honest thing two people can do is acknowledge when the road they’re on no longer leads where they both want to go.