Country star Jelly Roll is sharing how love and communication helped him and wife Bunnie Xo rebuild their relationship after painful struggles.
A Marriage Tested
The couple, who married in Las Vegas in 2016, briefly split in 2018 after Bunnie discovered Jelly Roll had been having an affair. In her new memoir Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, Bunnie candidly recalls the devastating moment and the emotional toll it took on her. She admitted she contemplated ending her life that night before ultimately choosing to walk away from the marriage for three months.
Jelly Roll has described the affair as “one of the worst moments of my adulthood,” acknowledging the deep hurt it caused and the work required to repair their bond.
Choosing Love and Communication
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Star Search finale on February 17, Jelly Roll explained how they found their way back to each other. “Love, man. Love will always do it,” he said. “Communication, just believing you’re with the right person and believing that change can actually happen.”
He added that sharing their story publicly was meant to inspire others facing similar challenges. “We knew it would come with blowback, but our heart was to hope that somebody would hear it and believe that they could change.”
Bunnie’s Courage
Jelly praised his wife’s bravery in writing openly about their struggles, including experiences with domestic and sexual assault. “I’m just proud of her for telling her story so unapologetically,” he said. “She talks about everything fearlessly. She’s so brave.”
Though reading the memoir was difficult for him, Jelly said it was ultimately touching to see how far they had come together.
A Renewed Commitment
The couple first met at one of Jelly Roll’s concerts in 2015 and tied the knot the following year. They renewed their vows in August 2023 at the same Las Vegas chapel where they originally wed.
At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Jelly Roll credited Bunnie with saving his life. “I would have never changed my life without you. I would have ended up dead or in jail. I would have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus,” he said during his acceptance speech for Best Contemporary Country Album.
Their journey, marked by honesty and resilience, continues to inspire fans who see in them a testament to the power of love and second chances.
