Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo: Inside Their IVF and Surrogacy Journey Before Their Nearly 10-Year Marriage Ended

Before their nearly decade-long marriage unexpectedly came to an end, Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo spent more than a year publicly documenting their journey to expand their family through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy. Their candid openness about the emotional highs and lows of the process resonated with many fans, as they spoke honestl

y about the challenges, heartbreak, and hope that came with pursuing their dream of having a child together.

However, those plans took an unexpected turn when Jelly Roll filed for divorce in May 2026. According to court documents, the couple separated on May 9, 2026, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. The filing further stated that the two “are unable to live together successfully as Husband and Wife.”

Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo first met in 2015 before tying the knot in August 2016. After seven years of marriage, they renewed their wedding vows in 2023 as a celebration of their relationship. Although they never welcomed a child together, Jelly Roll shares two children, Bailee Ann and Noah Buddy, from previous relationships, while Bunnie embraced the role of a devoted stepmother throughout their marriage.

Jelly Roll first revealed the couple’s plans to grow their family during a June 2024 episode of the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast. The singer shared, “My wife and I are talking about having a baby, and it really made me realize that at almost 40, I was like, it means I got to live to at least 60. I got to see this kid into college.”

Shortly afterward, Bunnie confirmed the news on social media, writing, “Papabear dropped a surprise on this pod today. We had planned on doing this privately, but decided our IVF journey needed to be shared because we’ve always been so open. And w/all odds stacked against us, it’s always been hard & we have only just begun.”

A month later, during an episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast, Bunnie explained why the couple chose surrogacy instead of having her carry the baby herself. She revealed that after serious conversations with Jelly Roll, she realized the only dream she still wanted to fulfill was raising a child. “This journey with IVF, we sat down a couple months ago… I was just like, I feel like I’ve accomplished so much in my life. And the only thing that’s left is to raise a baby and garden.”

She admitted that Jelly Roll’s response surprised her. “J was like… ‘I would love to have a baby with you.’ And that was not the response that I thought he would say.”

Despite their shared excitement, Bunnie decided to pursue surrogacy because of both physical and mental health concerns. She revealed that she had experienced multiple miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies and did not want to jeopardize the emotional stability she had worked so hard to achieve. “I am not mentally well enough to let my hormones get out of whack… My anxiety is finally good. There is nothing wrong with having a surrogate. I would have trouble carrying a baby. I have lost many babies… My schedule does not allow for me to have another miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.”

The couple originally planned to begin embryo transfer in early 2025. In her memoir Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, published in February 2025, Bunnie disclosed that she had an abortion at the age of 16 and later underwent two life-saving procedures due to ectopic pregnancies. She also confirmed that they had found a surrogate, writing, “J and I have a surrogate, the sweetest woman ever, and soon I’ll be starting my IVF stims.”

In earlier interviews, Bunnie described IVF as “one of the hardest things” she had ever experienced. “It’s been rough. I know that God has a plan and he’s going to make it work.”

Jelly Roll also spoke openly about his excitement at the prospect of becoming a father again. While appearing on Netflix’s Star Search, he told a young contestant, “Me and my wife have baby fever, and you just tripled that tonight.”

By June 2025, Bunnie shared that she had finally received the phone call she had been waiting months for. “When you just got the call you’ve been waiting on for five months since this IVF journey started. All the tears, the hopelessness & the struggle, God finally said ‘Here.’” Although she clarified that she was not pregnant, she described the news as a “huge win.”

Several months later, Bunnie revealed that if their fertility journey did not work out, the couple remained open to adoption. “It is tough, but at the same time it’s like, you just put it in God’s hands. If it’s meant to be it’s meant to be. And if not, we can always adopt. I’m totally open to adoption too and so is my husband.”

Beyond supporting Jelly Roll throughout their fertility journey, Bunnie also played a significant role in raising his daughter, Bailee Ann. That experience ultimately changed her perspective on motherhood. “I just want women to know it doesn’t matter what age you are when you’re ready to be a mom, be a mom…” She also admitted, “I never wanted to have kids, and raising Bailee has really showed me that, ‘Hey, maybe I actually can do this.’”

Following news of the divorce, Bunnie continued to speak candidly about the physical effects IVF had on her body. She revealed that hormone treatments caused significant weight gain, making her the target of online criticism. “As I was going through IVF, it put weight on me… And you’re literally trying to make a baby with your body. It’s like people just have no respect. The internet is just so crazy.”

The podcaster said she has learned to ignore the negativity. “I’ve learned that it’s just miserable people who have nothing better to do than just comment on other people’s lives. So, you can’t ever let that get to you.”

Bunnie also shared that she microdosed a GLP-1 medication to help manage her weight after IVF and explained that the estrogen treatments aggravated her endometriosis. “My stomach after I did the IVF… it looked like I was, like, three months pregnant.” She emphasized that her goal was never simply to lose weight, but rather to reduce inflammation and improve her overall health.

Born Jason DeFord, Jelly Roll has become one of the most successful artists blending country music with rap. After a troubled youth that included multiple legal issues and time behind bars, he rebuilt his life through music. Songs such as Save Me, Need a Favor, and Son of a Sinner transformed him into one of country music’s biggest stars in recent years, earning widespread critical acclaim and multiple awards for music inspired by his own life experiences.

Meanwhile, Bunnie Xo has established herself as a successful podcaster, entrepreneur, and digital creator through her popular show Dumb Blonde. She has built a loyal audience by openly discussing her difficult childhood, mental health struggles, marriage, and personal growth. Her willingness to share every stage of her IVF and surrogacy journey also made her story a source of comfort and encouragement for many couples facing infertility.

Although Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo’s marriage has come to an end, their candid conversations about infertility, IVF, surrogacy, and parenthood continue to resonate with audiences. Alongside their professional achievements, their story highlights the emotional, physical, and psychological challenges many couples face while pursuing the dream of building a family under the public spotlight.