In a heartbreaking turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the country music community, Jelly Roll has filed for divorce from his wife Bunnie XO after nearly a decade of marriage, according to court records reviewed by USA TODAY www.usatoday.com .

The 41-year-old "Son of a Sinner" singer—whose real name is Jason DeFord—filed for divorce in Tennessee on May 18, 2026, though the news didn't become public until June 15 people.com . Court documents indicate the couple separated on May 9, 2026, marking the end of a relationship that began in 2015 and led to marriage in August 2016 www.tmz.com .

A Troubled History

The divorce filing comes as a stunning revelation, particularly given the couple's previous openness about working through marital challenges. In an October 2025 episode of the "Human School" podcast, Jelly Roll made a shocking admission: "One of the worst moments of my adulthood was when I had an affair on my wife" www.usatoday.com .

At the time, the country star said the couple put in "a lot of work to repair" their relationship, claiming they became "stronger than we could have ever been." He didn't provide specific details about the timeline or nature of the infidelity, but admitted that "I was hanging around a bunch of people that were cheating on their wives" www.usatoday.com .

Previous Struggles

This isn't the first time the couple has faced marital difficulties. Bunnie XO, whose real name is Alisa DeFord, revealed on TikTok in 2024 that the pair briefly split in 2018 www.usatoday.com . "We finally committed to each other and did everything we promised each other the first night in 2016," she wrote at the time. "Our castle in the sand had to crumble so we could rebuild on solid ground" www.usatoday.com .

The 46-year-old podcaster has been remarkably candid about their relationship struggles over the years, often sharing intimate details with her millions of followers on social media and her popular podcast "Dumb Blonde" www.instagram.com .

Plans for Children Now in Question

Perhaps most tragically, the divorce comes just as the couple had been preparing to expand their family. Since 2024, Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO had been open about their plans to welcome children through in vitro fertilization using a surrogate www.usatoday.com .

In her book "Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic," published in February 2026, Bunnie revealed they had found a surrogate and hoped to have twins www.usatoday.com . "Now that we're finally stable financially and somewhat emotionally after all the healing we've done over this decade together, we're talking about the future — including growing our family," she wrote. "We're going to raise these babies in love and give them everything we were never given" www.usatoday.com .

Jelly Roll already has two children from previous relationships: 18-year-old Bailee Ann and 9-year-old Noah Buddy www.usatoday.com .

Fan Reactions and Social Media Response

Following the news of the divorce, fans noticed Jelly Roll wasn't wearing his wedding ring during public appearances www.instagram.com . The couple, who have been incredibly open about their relationship journey over the years, have not yet issued detailed public statements about the split.

Bunnie XO's Career and Background

Bunnie XO, 46, is a successful podcaster, entrepreneur, and social media influencer in her own right. Her podcast "Dumb Blonde" has garnered millions of listeners, and she's known for her unfiltered honesty about her past, including her previous work in adult entertainment before meeting Jelly Roll www.usatoday.com .

The couple met in Las Vegas in 2015 when Bunnie came to one of Jelly Roll's performances. They began dating in 2016 and married just months later, despite the challenges that came with Jelly Roll's existing children and his burgeoning music career people.com .

What's Next?

As of now, neither party has released detailed statements about the divorce or their plans moving forward. The divorce was filed in Williamson County, Tennessee, and court records indicate the split is proceeding through the legal system www.instagram.com .

Fans of the couple are expressing shock and sadness on social media, with many sharing memories of how the couple's openness about their relationship struggles had helped them through their own marital challenges.

This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.