How Bunnie XO Helped Jelly Roll Rebuild His Life and Win Custody of His Daughter
Success stories in music often focus on fame and hit songs. But sometimes the most powerful story happens long before the spotlight. That is exactly the case with Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO.
Today, Jelly Roll is known for his powerful voice, emotional songs, and honest conversations about addiction and redemption. Yet years ago, his life looked very different. He was struggling financially, trying to rebuild his life after legal troubles, and fighting to gain custody of his daughter. During that difficult chapter, Bunnie XO stepped in and changed everything. Her support helped him become the father he wanted to be and helped create the family they share today.
Keep reading to discover how Bunnie XO stepped in during one of the hardest chapters of Jelly Roll’s life and helped him rebuild his future, fight for custody of his daughter, and create the family he always dreamed of.
When Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO First Met
Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO met in 2015. At the time, their lives were moving in very different directions financially. Bunnie was already successful and making more money than Jelly Roll thanks to her previous career as a sex worker and her growing presence online.
Despite their different circumstances, the connection between them was immediate. Their relationship moved quickly, and the couple got married on August 31, 2016.
But while their relationship was beginning to grow, Jelly Roll was dealing with one of the biggest challenges of his life. He was trying to gain full custody of his daughter, Bailee Ann.
A Father Fighting for His Daughter
At the time, Bailee was about eight years old. Her mother was struggling with addiction, and Jelly Roll wanted to give his daughter a safer and more stable home.
The problem was that his situation made that nearly impossible. He did not have a steady income, stable housing, or the resources needed to fight a legal custody battle.
To make things even more complicated, another major life event was happening at the same time. A different woman was pregnant with Jelly Roll’s son, Noah.
Jelly Roll knew he needed to be honest with Bunnie about everything happening in his life.
“So when Bunnie comes into my life, I have to sit Bunnie down … and go, ‘Look, I have a kid that you know about, that I’m fixing to have to get full custody of. There’s also a woman out there that’s pregnant with a kid of mine,” he explained while speaking on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast.
Her response surprised him.“And Bunnie’s just like, ‘Whew, that’s a lot, but I got you, whatever.’”
Instead of walking away from the complicated situation, Bunnie chose to stand beside him.
Homeless and Trying to Build a Future
During this period, Jelly Roll was dealing with serious financial struggles. At one point, he did not even have a place to live.
“I don’t have a house. I’m homeless,” he recalled.
He was living out of a 1996 van while trying to figure out how to create a stable home for his daughter. The situation made it even harder to move forward with the custody process.
Bunnie immediately started thinking about practical solutions.
She told him the first step was to find a place to live in Nashville so Bailee would have a proper home. But there was another challenge. Because Jelly Roll had a felony record and limited proof of income, renting a place under his own name was nearly impossible.
Bunnie had a simple idea.
“Let’s just go get a condo so you have a bedroom for her.”
That decision changed everything. Having a home meant Jelly Roll could start building the stable environment he needed to bring his daughter into his life full-time.
The Promise That Moved Jelly Roll to Tears
As they worked through the process, Bunnie said something that Jelly Roll still remembers clearly today.
“No matter what happens with us, I’m gonna help you get this little girl.”
That promise meant everything to him.“Man, what character,” he said, remembering the moment with emotion.
At the time, he did not have the money to fight for custody.
“Dude, I’m broke. I can’t afford the lawyer. I can’t afford anything. What am I, gonna put the kid in the van? I’m living out of, like, a ’96 van. And Bunnie’s like, ‘I’ll help you.’ So Bunnie bankrolled the whole s–t. And she never talks about that. It’s a true story.”
Bunnie helped pay for the legal process and supported him throughout the custody process.
Why Bunnie XO Felt Compelled to Help
For Bunnie, the decision to help was deeply personal. Her own childhood experiences shaped the way she saw the situation.
“It spoke to my heart because I’m a product of an addict. My dad was a musician. My mom was a stripper. I didn’t get to meet my real mother until I was 36 years old, because she left me on a doorstep,” she explained.
When she visited Bailee’s mother’s home during the custody process, what she saw left a lasting impression.
“When we went over to Bailee’s mom’s house, and this was in the mist of all this, I walked in, and Bailee didn’t even have a bed. She was sleeping on a chair.”
Bunnie also noticed that Bailee was taking care of the younger children in the house.
“And she was there taking care of her two, two or three little cousins, making them food. Literally all she was doing was making them bread with peanut butter on it. And it broke my heart.”
In that moment, she knew helping Jelly Roll gain custody was the right thing to do.
Building the Family They Have Today
Bunnie said supporting Jelly Roll was never a difficult choice.“I just did what felt right. It was the best decision I ever made, because now I’ve got my little family.”
Today, their story has become one of resilience, second chances, and unconditional support.
Jelly Roll often speaks openly about his past struggles with addiction, prison, and poverty. His music and public appearances frequently focus on helping others who are facing similar challenges.
He now tries to give back whenever he can. Whether it is connecting with fans who are struggling or sharing emotional moments online, Jelly Roll uses his platform to encourage people who feel lost.
The journey from living in a van to becoming a successful artist and devoted father did not happen overnight. But the support of Bunnie XO played a huge role in helping him change his life.
Their story is proof that sometimes one person believing in you can make all the difference.
TL;DR
- Jelly Roll met Bunnie XO in 2015 when he was struggling financially and trying to rebuild his life.
- At the time, Jelly Roll was homeless and living out of a van while fighting to gain custody of his daughter, Bailee Ann.
- Bunnie XO was financially stable and stepped in to help him during one of the most difficult periods of his life.
- She helped him secure a condo in Nashville so his daughter would have a safe place to live and access to a good school district.
- Bunnie also paid for legal expenses and supported the custody battle that eventually allowed Jelly Roll to become a full-time parent.
- Her decision was influenced by her own childhood struggles and growing up around addiction.
- During a visit to Bailee’s mother’s home, Bunnie saw the child sleeping on a chair and caring for younger cousins, which deeply moved her.
- Bunnie promised to help Jelly Roll gain custody regardless of what happened in their relationship.
- The couple married on August 31, 2016, and built a strong family together.
- Today, Jelly Roll often shares his story of redemption and uses his platform to help others facing addiction, poverty, and family struggles.
