{"id":9884,"date":"2025-11-20T18:57:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/strongermarriages\/?p=9884"},"modified":"2025-11-20T18:57:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:57:59","slug":"jelly-rolls-wife-defends-coco-austins-call-for-women-to-embrace-a-submissive-role-in-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/strongermarriages\/2025\/11\/jelly-rolls-wife-defends-coco-austins-call-for-women-to-embrace-a-submissive-role-in-marriage.html","title":{"rendered":"Jelly Roll\u2019s Wife Defends Coco Austin\u2019s Call For Women to Embrace a \u201cSubmissive\u201d Role in Marriage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Left: Sky Cinema \/ Shutterstock.com | Right: Featureflash Photo Agency \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coco Austin and Bunnie Xo are sparking a new round of conversation about what it means to have an \u201cold-fashioned\u201d marriage\u2014something both women say works beautifully in their homes.<\/p>\n

During a recent conversation on the “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Coco opened up about her relationship with her husband, rapper and actor Ice-T. She admitted she\u2019s happy taking what she calls a \u201csubmissive\u201d role in their marriage, something she knows may sound controversial. Before meeting Ice-T back in 2001, Coco described herself as a \u201cparty girl\u201d who loved having fun. But Ice-T, she said, was \u201cvery straight-laced,\u201d and even after more than 20 years together, \u201cnot much has changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple met on the set of a music video and married just a few months later. They renewed their vows in 2011 and welcomed their daughter, Chanel, in 2015.<\/p>\n

Now 46, Coco said that Ice-T \u201chas to be in control\u201d in their relationship, and that people often underestimate her role in his success. \u201cHe goes, he does his job, works hard, works hard for his money, and I feel like my place is \u2013 keep the house right,\u201d she told Bunnie. \u201cI manage the house, I keep it right. I keep everything sane because when he comes out from the streets into the home, he can now relax.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that their dynamic is what keeps their marriage strong. \u201cI feel like we have an old-fashioned type of love, an old-fashioned relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bunnie, who married Jelly Roll in 2016, said she relates. She agreed that she also makes sure her husband feels like he\u2019s in charge. Coco said too many women feel the need to prove they don\u2019t need anyone. \u201cNowadays, I feel like women must be independent\u2026 I don’t need a man,\u201d she said. \u201cOK, well, if you use that, you’re never going to get a man\u2026 Men, they want a woman to be submissive. I know I’m probably going to get a lot of hate for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bunnie pushed back on the idea that independence and submission can\u2019t coexist. \u201cYou can be independent and still be submissive for a person that you love,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Coco agreed, saying, \u201cThat’s what I do with Ice. I’m very submissive, I just bring it down for him\u2026 A man wants to be a man, why can’t a woman be a woman?\u201d<\/p>\n

She even shared advice she gives to women who ask how to \u201clevel up\u201d in their relationships. \u201cStop trying to be such a boss. Bring it down,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can be a boss in your world, but bring it down a little bit. Men gotta feel like they’re protectors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bunnie chimed in again: \u201cThey want to feel like they’re taking care of business, like they’re able to be a man.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Coco, it all comes down to what has worked for \u201cthousands of years.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Jelly Roll and Bunnie, they credit something different for the strength of their marriage. When asked at the 2024 CMT Music Awards how they stay strong, Jelly Roll said it\u2019s all about \u201copen, real, honest communication.\u201d He explained, \u201cWe talk about the uncomfortable stuff up front. It’s a real important thing in our marriage.\u201d And above all, he said, they try to keep things light: \u201cHave a short memory. Laugh as much as you can. Laughter is the best medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coco Austin and Bunnie Xo are sparking a new round of conversation about what it means to have an \u201cold-fashioned\u201d marriage\u2014something both women say works beautifully in their homes. During a recent conversation on the “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Coco opened up about her relationship with her husband, rapper and actor Ice-T. She admitted she\u2019s happy…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":462,"featured_media":9887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nJelly Roll\u2019s Wife Defends Coco Austin\u2019s Call For Women to Embrace a \u201cSubmissive\u201d Role in Marriage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ice-T's wife Coco Austin shares relationship advice on "Dumb Blonde" podcast, discussing traditional roles and what makes marriages last.\" \/>\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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