Bunnie Xo has spoken candidly about life after her divorce from Jelly Roll, describing the end of their nearly decade-long marriage as "beautifully tragic" while insisting there is always a silver lining, and making clear that as far as she is concerned, being single suits her just fine.
Appearing on the Today show alongside hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones, the Dumb Blonde podcast host, whose real name is Alisa DeFord, reflected on the split with a characteristic combination of honesty and humour.
"I know when something like that that's deeply personal happens, it's beautifully tragic," she told the hosts. "But at the same time there's always a silver lining, there's always something better to look forward to."
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, filed for divorce on May 18, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple, who had married in Las Vegas in August 2016, settled their divorce in July. Despite a brief split in 2018, they had rallied to continue another eight years together. Jelly Roll has since told fans at a concert that he and Bunnie "will always be best friends."
Bunnie confirmed during the interview that she is still planning to have a baby, despite the end of the marriage. The couple had previously been open about their IVF journey and their plans to use a surrogate.
"That's going to be one of my newest chapters of my next book," she said, adding that it had been "one hell of a journey."
On the subject of her dating life, Bunnie made no attempt to play down how much she is enjoying the freedom of being single again.
"Ladies, they should've never let me back out in the streets because I love it here, and I'm never going back," she told the hosts. She described her Instagram DMs as a "freakin smorgasbord" of potential suitors, saying some of the pickup lines had been "amazing" and that she did not even know who to reply to.
But beyond the humour, Bunnie used the platform to share a message she clearly feels strongly about.
"Us as women, we put ourselves aside so much for partners, friends, kids, and it's like we don't pour into ourselves," she said. "Sometimes you need to be selfish and you need to pour into yourself."
She added that she hopes her experience can be a source of encouragement for other women navigating difficult chapters.
"It doesn't matter how hard of a situation you're going through, you're going to get through that, you're going to rise up and you're going to be an even better version of yourself," she said.
Though she stopped short of calling herself a role model, she acknowledged that if anyone could take something useful from her journey, she would be glad for it.
The divorce has come during what has been a significant period of change for both parties. Jelly Roll announced in August that he is taking a year or two away from touring to heal, while Bunnie has channelled her energy into her podcast, her memoir and her plans for motherhood.
Whatever comes next for both of them, Bunnie Xo appears to be approaching it on her own terms, and with no shortage of DMs to keep her entertained in the meantime.
