{"id":49240,"date":"2026-02-18T16:55:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T21:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=49240"},"modified":"2026-02-18T16:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T21:56:10","slug":"jelly-rolls-wife-says-backlash-to-his-gospel-filled-grammy-speech-borderline-demonic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2026\/02\/jelly-rolls-wife-says-backlash-to-his-gospel-filled-grammy-speech-borderline-demonic.html","title":{"rendered":"Jelly Roll\u2019s Wife Calls Backlash to His Gospel-Filled Grammy Speech ‘Borderline Demonic’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dumb Blonde Podcast \/ YouTube | Inset: Recording Academy GRAMMYs \/ YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Jelly Roll took the stage at the Grammy Awards and boldly thanked Jesus for saving his life, the moment struck a chord with many fans. But it also sparked a wave of online criticism\u2014something his wife, Bunnie Xo, says has been deeply painful to witness.<\/p>\n

On a recent episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, the influencer\u2014whose real name is Alisa DeFord\u2014opened up about the backlash her husband has faced since sharing his faith on one of music\u2019s biggest stages. Some critics labeled him a \u201cperformative Christian\u201d or accused him of mixing faith with politics after he declared, \u201cJesus is for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Bunnie Xo, the response revealed a troubling trend. \u201cThe problem is that people are weaponizing the Bible and religion way more than they are celebrating the name of Jesus,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd it’s to the point where they’re just proving why people do not want to be a Christian.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple, married since 2016, have both spoken openly about their past struggles with addiction and brokenness\u2014journeys that make their faith especially personal. Bunnie Xo said seeing people attack her husband\u2019s sincerity has been heartbreaking. \u201cSeeing all of these people online just tearing apart my husband’s walk of faith makes me not want to associate with that type of Christianity,\u201d she admitted. \u201cIt’s so horrific, and it is so sad, and it’s borderline demonic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the harsh criticism, she emphasized that Jelly Roll\u2019s message was never about pushing religion or telling others what to do. \u201cMy husband’s not sitting there saying, \u2018You need to go to church\u2026\u2019 He\u2019s not asking for anything,\u201d she said. \u201cAll he’s saying is, \u2018Hey, Jesus is for everybody. Jesus does not belong to one political party. Jesus loves you.\u2019 And the internet lost their minds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelly Roll\u2019s Grammy speech itself was raw and deeply personal. Holding up a small Bible, he reflected on his past incarceration and the turning point that led him toward faith and music. \u201cThere was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big and a radio the same size and a 6-by-8-foot cell,\u201d he told the audience. \u201cAnd I believe that those two things could change my life. I believe that music had the power to change my life. And God had the power to change my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The singer, who won three awards that night, including Best Contemporary Country Album, also spoke candidly about how close he once came to self-destruction. \u201cI would have never changed my life without you,\u201d he said, addressing both God and his wife. \u201cI\u2019d have ended up dead or in jail. I\u2019d have killed myself if it wasn\u2019t for you and Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n

His closing words captured the heart of his message: \u201cJesus is for everybody\u2026 anybody can have a relationship with Him. I love you, Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

For many believers, the moment was a powerful testimony of redemption on a global stage. For Bunnie Xo, it was also a reminder that faith journeys are often misunderstood\u2014especially when shared publicly. Still, she says she\u2019s choosing grace in response. Even as criticism continues, the couple\u2019s story stands as a visible example of transformation\u2014one they hope points others toward the same hope they found.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Jelly Roll took the stage at the Grammy Awards and boldly thanked Jesus for saving his life, the moment struck a chord with many fans. But it also sparked a wave of online criticism\u2014something his wife, Bunnie Xo, says has been deeply painful to witness. On a recent episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":462,"featured_media":49243,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nJelly Roll\u2019s Wife Calls Backlash to His Gospel-Filled Grammy Speech 'Borderline Demonic'<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Jelly Roll\u2019s wife defends his Grammy speech about Jesus, calling backlash \u201cborderline demonic\u201d after critics question his faith message.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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