Country singer Jelly Roll has opened up about one of the most difficult moments of his life — the time he cheated on his wife, Bunnie Xo. During the October 21 episode of the Human School Podcast, the 40-year-old artist reflected on the painful chapter that tested both his marriage and his character.
“I don’t talk about this publicly at all,” Jelly Roll said. “But one of the worst moments of my adulthood was when I had an affair with my wife.”
The musician, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, said the experience left him deeply ashamed and forced him to confront his behavior. “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.’ It was just such a—just really, really, really blew me back.”
He explained that the aftermath of the affair became a turning point, leading him to take responsibility and begin the difficult process of healing his marriage. “I did a lot of work to repair that relationship,” he said. “The repair has been special. And we’re stronger than we could have ever been.”
Though he regrets the pain caused, Jelly Roll said he’s proud of the progress they’ve made as a couple. “I wish that our story had gone in the way that it never had an affair,” he admitted. “But I am proud of who we are today.”
Reflecting on what led him down that path, the “Bloodline” singer said his environment played a major role in his mistakes. “I was hanging around a bunch of people that were cheating on their wives,” he explained. “When I was doing cocaine, I was hanging around a bunch of people who were doing cocaine. When I was drinking a lot, I was hanging around a lot of people who were drinking a lot.”
He added that letting go of toxic friendships was one of the hardest but most necessary steps in his growth. “I used to be proud of long-standing friendships just because they had a number attached to ‘em,” he said. “Horrible humans. But I would just be proud to say, ‘That dude’s been with me 12 years.’”
Now, Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo — whose real name is Alyssa DeFord — have surrounded themselves with supportive, positive influences. “I wanted to be friends with people I wanted to be like,” he shared.
Bunnie, who rarely speaks about their brief separation, hinted at their 2018 split in a TikTok post earlier this year. “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.
The couple’s renewed commitment has turned heartbreak into strength. “Our castle in the sand had to crumble so we could rebuild on solid ground,” Bunnie wrote. “I yuh you so mushhh.”
Today, Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo appear united and stronger than ever, proving that love, honesty, and forgiveness can heal even the deepest wounds.
