Country star Jelly Roll is getting real about one of the lowest moments of his life — and how love, faith, and forgiveness helped rebuild what once felt broken.
On a recent episode of the Human School podcast, the “Need a Favor” singer opened up about cheating on his wife, Bunnie Xo, calling it “one of the worst moments” of his adulthood.
“It was the first time that I was like, ‘I really can’t get this right at all. I know I’m in love with this woman,’” Jelly Roll admitted. “It just really, really, really blew me back.”
The 40-year-old artist said the affair happened years ago during a darker chapter of his life when he was surrounded by bad influences. “I was hanging around a bunch of people that were cheating on their wives. When I was doing cocaine, I was hanging around a bunch of people that were doing cocaine,” he said. “I used to be proud of long-standing friendships just because they had a number attached to them. Horrible humans.”
But he didn’t stay in that place. Jelly said he “put in a lot of work to repair” his relationship with Bunnie, and today, their marriage is stronger than ever. “I wish our story would’ve went in the way that it never had an affair, and I’m in no way glad it happened,” he said. “But man, I’m proud of who we are today. I truly am.”
Bunnie Xo, whose real name is Alyssa DeFord, has also been open about the couple’s journey of healing. When one social media critic recently slammed her for staying with Jelly Roll, she offered a prayerful and grace-filled response.
“It actually takes a stronger woman to face pain head-on, do the work, and rebuild with the man she loves – instead of running or gossiping,” Bunnie wrote in an Instagram story. “Growth isn’t weakness, it’s grace. But not everyone’s built for that kind of strength. I pray you never have to feel that pain because you’re judging another woman’s life.”
Bunnie has previously hinted that the couple briefly split in 2018 before finding their footing again. “Who knew that us breaking up in 2018, me moving back to Vegas & you coming to get me back – would have put us on this wild journey called life,” she wrote last year on TikTok. “Our castle in the sand had to crumble so we could rebuild on solid ground.”
Jelly Roll and Bunnie met in 2015 and tied the knot the following year after he proposed onstage at a concert. In 2023, they renewed their vows at the same Las Vegas chapel where they first said “I do.”
“Open, real, honest communication,” Jelly told Fox News Digital when asked about the secret to their lasting love. “We talk about the uncomfortable stuff up front. It’s a real important thing in our marriage.”
He added that laughter plays a big part in keeping their bond strong. “We don’t take nothing too serious. Have a short memory. Laugh as much as you can. Laughter is the best medicine.”
Through the ups and downs, both Jelly Roll and Bunnie have shown that redemption and forgiveness are possible — and that love can grow even stronger through grace.