Jelly Roll Files for Divorce From Bunnie Xo After Nearly a Decade of Marriage

Country music star Jelly Roll has filed for divorce from his wife, Bunnie Xo, in Williamson County, Tennessee, on May 18, 2026, citing irreconcilable differences, according to court records obtained by People.

The couple, who married in a secret courthouse ceremony on August 30, 2016, and renewed their vows in 2023, had separated just nine days prior, with the separation date listed as May 9, 2026.

The filing brings an end to a nearly decade-long relationship that played out publicly, marked by affectionate social media posts and joint appearances at award shows, yet shadowed by private struggles that had emerged in recent months.

Secret Wedding and Public Moments

Jelly Roll — born Jason DeFord — and Bunnie Xo wed the same night they got engaged in 2016, after roughly a year of dating.

They celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary on September 2, 2025, with a joint Instagram post captioned, “9 years of us.” Less than a year later, the marriage has unraveled in a quiet legal action.

Just days before the separation date, the couple had supported their 18-year-old daughter Bailee at her prom, documenting the event on social media.

Bunnie also shared a TikTok video on May 9, 2026 — the same day listed as the separation date — with the text, “Never believed in ever after happily until y’all.”

Marriage Struggles Revealed

Strain in the marriage had been hinted at in recent disclosures. In her 2026 memoir, Bunnie revealed that Jelly Roll had a 10-month affair in 2018.

During an October 2025 interview, the singer called the infidelity “one of the worst moments in my adulthood” but said he was “proud of who we are” as a couple.

More recently, in July 2025, Bunnie shared details about undergoing IVF treatments. The couple had also attended the Grammy Awards together in February 2026, where Jelly Roll won Best Contemporary Country Album and thanked his wife emotionally in his acceptance speech.

“I want to thank my beautiful wife. I would have never changed my life without you. I would have ended up dead or in jail. I would have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus. I thank you for that.”

— Jelly Roll, Grammy Awards acceptance speech, February 2026

Despite those public declarations of gratitude, the divorce filing signals that the couple’s private difficulties proved insurmountable. Jelly Roll is also father to a son, Noah, 9, from previous relationships; Bunnie has served as an active stepmother to both children.

The case, filed in Williamson County Chancery Court, is likely to proceed without major disputes given the “irreconcilable differences” citation. Neither party has made additional public statements since the filing.