Jelly Roll's former wife, Bunnie Xo, has opened up about the lengths she went to financially support the country music star during the early stages of his career.
The podcast host, who married Jelly Roll in 2016, made the revelations during an episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast, discussing the couple's financial struggles and the sacrifices she made before the singer achieved mainstream success.
Her comments emerged shortly after news broke that Jelly Roll had filed for divorce, bringing their marriage of almost a decade to an end.
Although the couple eventually enjoyed considerable financial success, Bunnie explained that their circumstances were very different when they first met.
She also challenged the perception that she had been independently wealthy throughout their relationship.
What did Bunnie Xo mean when she said she was 'turning tricks'?
During the podcast, Bunnie revealed that she had been working as a sex worker to help pay the couple's bills and support Jelly Roll's developing music career.
She used the expression 'turning tricks', a slang term commonly used to describe providing sexual services in exchange for money.
According to Bunnie, the money she earned helped cover everyday living expenses, legal fees and the costs associated with Jelly Roll travelling and performing.
She explained: "I was turning tricks to pay our bills and to get lawyers and to travel and to, you know, go on tour and stuff like that."
Bunnie said their early financial situation was far from comfortable, despite the impression some people had developed about her role in supporting the singer.
She also revealed that she had financially supportive relationships with wealthy men, sometimes described as 'sugar daddies', during that period.
The podcast host said she wanted people to understand that the money supporting Jelly Roll's early career did not simply come from existing wealth.
Bunnie Xo reveals how she supported Jelly Roll before he became famous
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, struggled financially during the earlier years of his music career.
Before becoming a major country music star, he spent years building an audience through independent releases, touring and performing at smaller venues.
Bunnie said that when they first became a couple, neither of them had the financial security they would later achieve.
She explained that they were earning money as opportunities arose and doing what they could to cover their expenses.
Her financial contributions reportedly helped pay for practical necessities as well as expenses connected to Jelly Roll's professional ambitions.
Those costs included travelling to performances and obtaining legal assistance.
Bunnie also acknowledged that discussions about her role in the singer's success had sometimes overlooked the circumstances in which she was earning money.
Rather than portraying herself as solely responsible for his eventual breakthrough, she described their early relationship as a period when both were trying to establish financial stability.
Why did Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo divorce?
The revelations came after Jelly Roll filed for divorce in Tennessee on May 18, 2026.
According to court documents reported by Fox News Digital, the singer listed May 9 as the couple's date of separation and cited irreconcilable differences.
News of the filing became public in June, prompting widespread discussion among fans who had followed the couple's relationship for years.
Jelly Roll and Bunnie first met in Las Vegas in 2015 before marrying on August 31, 2016.
Throughout their marriage, Bunnie became one of the singer's most visible supporters, frequently appearing alongside him at public events and celebrating his career achievements.
The pair also spoke publicly about challenges in their relationship, including a previous separation and their efforts to rebuild their marriage.
In 2023, they renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas to mark their seventh anniversary.
However, their relationship ultimately ended in 2026.
Bunnie Xo makes heartbreaking admission about their marriage
Alongside discussing her financial contributions, Bunnie shared a personal account of the difficulties she believed had developed between herself and Jelly Roll.
She claimed that communication had deteriorated during the final stages of their marriage.
"We stopped communicating together in the past year and a half," she said.
Bunnie also reflected on what she perceived as an imbalance in the emotional effort invested in their relationship.
She admitted: "I always loved my husband a little bit more than he loved me."
The podcast host described feeling responsible for protecting Jelly Roll and maintaining their connection.
She suggested that she frequently prioritised his wellbeing and tried to keep their relationship functioning despite the difficulties they faced.
These comments represent Bunnie's personal account of the marriage rather than an independently established explanation for why the couple separated.
How did Jelly Roll become a successful country music star?
Jelly Roll spent years developing his career before becoming a mainstream name in country music.
His earlier work drew heavily on hip-hop and rock influences, with songs frequently exploring addiction, hardship and personal struggles.
His breakthrough into country music came through tracks including Son of a Sinner and Save Me.
Those releases introduced him to a significantly wider audience and helped establish him as one of the genre's most recognisable performers.
As his career grew, the singer began appearing at major award ceremonies, performing larger concerts and receiving industry recognition.
Bunnie was frequently alongside him during that rise, and the couple became known for publicly discussing both their successes and their difficult pasts.
What has Bunnie Xo said about her past?
Bunnie has previously spoken openly about her history in the sex industry and her decision to move into other forms of work.
She later developed a career as a podcast host, social media personality and entrepreneur.
Her Dumb Blonde podcast has featured interviews with celebrities and discussions about relationships, personal experiences and difficult life circumstances.
She has also discussed her past in her memoir, Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, released in February 2026.
Rather than attempting to conceal her previous work, Bunnie has repeatedly described it as part of her personal history and the journey that led to her current career.
Her latest comments offer additional context about how her earnings contributed to the couple's finances during Jelly Roll's early years as a musician.
What happens next for Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo?
Following their separation, both have begun navigating life outside their marriage.
Jelly Roll has continued his music career, while Bunnie has remained active through her podcast and other projects.
Despite the end of their relationship, their shared history remains a significant part of both their public stories.
Bunnie's account highlights the financial difficulties they experienced before achieving success and the personal sacrifices she says she made during that period.
Her comments also reveal how complicated their relationship had become in its final stages.
While Jelly Roll's rise to fame is well documented, Bunnie's latest revelations provide a different perspective on what was happening behind the scenes before the couple became household names.
Source: AL.com, June 24, 2026, reporting on Bunnie Xo's comments during her Dumb Blonde podcast.
