For followers, the information that Jelly Roll had filed for divorce from Bunnie XO got here as an entire shock.
After almost a decade collectively, the couple had weathered dependancy struggles, custody battles, monetary hardships, and fame itself.
Nonetheless, based on a brand new report, one closing situation mattered deeply to Bunnie earlier than she might settle for the tip of the wedding. It wasn’t about cash, property, and even their future plans. It was in regards to the daughter she helped increase as her personal.
As particulars of the divorce emerged, sources revealed that Bunnie’s connection to Jelly Roll’s daughter, Bailee Ann DeFord, performed a significant position in how she approached the cut up.
In response to an insider, Bunnie felt deeply related to {the teenager} after years of serving to increase her.
The supply stated she felt “spiritually tied” to Bailee and wished to ensure her stepdaughter’s life remained secure earlier than transferring ahead with such a significant life change.
“[Bunnie] is spiritually tied to his daughter,” the supply defined to the Daily Mail, including, “She waited to graduate [Bailee] from highschool and get her off to varsity.”
That protecting intuition comes after years of appearing as a mom determine to Bailee whereas additionally serving to take care of Jelly Roll’s youthful son, Noah.
Jelly Roll Fought To Save His Daughter As Her Mom’s Dependancy Worsened
Lengthy earlier than fame arrived, Jelly Roll’s life modified when he discovered he had grow to be a father whereas serving time in a Tennessee jail in 2008 after a drug-dealing conviction.
His daughter Bailee was born following a relationship with Felicia Beckwith, however the singer has admitted he wasn’t at all times current throughout her early years.
In his documentary “Jelly Roll: Save Me,” he described himself as a “lower than current father” and recalled how troublesome it initially was to safe visitation rights.
As Bailee grew older, nonetheless, her mom’s struggles with dependancy intensified. Jelly Roll defined that Beckwith’s battle with fibromyalgia led to prescription tablet dependency earlier than finally escalating into heroin dependancy.
By the point Bailee was seven years previous, he stated her mom had “began actually going downhill.” Decided to create a extra secure atmosphere, he turned to Bunnie for assist.
On the time, Bunnie was incomes substantial cash as an escort in Las Vegas, and she or he helped finance the trouble to realize custody.
She assisted the Grammy Award winner in securing authorized illustration and even helped him hire a condominium appropriate for elevating his daughter. Their efforts paid off when he was awarded major custody of Bailee in 2016.
Jelly Roll And Bunnie Helped Bailee Via A Household Disaster
Though there have been indicators of stress between Jelly Roll and Beckwith through the years, issues briefly improved in 2020 when Bailee’s mom reached out after turning into sober.
Simply earlier than Bailee’s twelfth birthday, Beckwith contacted her daughter whereas dwelling in restoration housing after serving jail time. With Jelly Roll’s help, the pair reconnected.
The singer later shared a photograph that includes himself, Bunnie, Bailee, and Beckwith collectively. On the time, he celebrated Beckwith’s sobriety and praised his spouse.
“Bunnie is a particular one that has a fantastic soul. I’m a blessed man,” he wrote. Sadly, the progress didn’t final. Talking earlier than lawmakers in Washington, D.C., in 2024, Jelly Roll recommended that Beckwith had relapsed.
“Each single day I’ve to marvel, me and my spouse, if at present would be the day I’ve to inform my daughter that her mom turned part of the nationwide statistic,” he stated.
Bailee later detailed a few of the most painful chapters of that interval throughout an look on Bunnie’s “Dumb Blonde” podcast. She revealed that in a summer time go to in 2022, her mom launched her to alcohol and marijuana and inspired her participation.
Bailee additionally alleged that her mom “manipulated me and satisfied me to do” one other drug after a Fourth of July celebration. For months afterward, she stated she was “by no means sober,” usually ingesting, vaping, and abusing prescription medicines with out her father’s data.
It was solely after returning to Nashville that Jelly Roll and Bunnie realized one thing was improper and helped her start the method of getting sober.
Jelly Roll’s Daughter Discovered Stability In Bunnie XO
Whereas her relationship along with her organic mom turned more and more troublesome, Bailee’s bond with Bunnie solely grew stronger.
Over time, social media has supplied glimpses into their relationship by dance movies, household moments, and heartfelt tributes.
Bailee has often referred to Bunnie as her “greatest buddy” and as soon as credited her father and stepmother’s custody victory with altering her life for the higher.
In a single emotional birthday message, she wrote, “Mother, I really like you greater than something on this life and ever will.” She continued, “Thanks for being every part I ever wanted. Thanks for every part. Comfortable birthday mama, Iove you a lot.”
Bailee additionally shaped a detailed relationship with Cheyenne Murphy, Beckwith’s former longtime girlfriend. Murphy remained a supportive determine all through Bailee’s upbringing and has often shared milestones with {the teenager}, together with live performance outings and promenade celebrations.
After information of the divorce broke, Murphy declined to remark publicly.
Jelly Roll’s Household Future Was Already Increasing Earlier than The Break up
Whereas Bailee’s story has typically been public, Jelly Roll’s youthful son Noah has largely been saved out of the highlight.
Born in August 2016, the identical month Jelly Roll married Bunnie, Noah is shared with Melisa Cowell. Court docket paperwork confirmed the pair shared custody preparations, with Cowell sustaining major accountability for his or her son.
In contrast to Bailee’s mom, Cowell has remained actively concerned in Noah’s life, and Jelly Roll has stated he tries “to not get in the way in which of what [Cowell] is constructing over there” as a result of he desires to respect these boundaries.
Bunnie has additionally spoken warmly about Cowell, calling her “one arise chick” and saying, “It takes a village to lift these infants & fortunately we have now her as part of the household.”
But even whereas serving to increase Jelly Roll’s youngsters, Bunnie had lengthy hoped to grow to be a organic mom herself. The couple spent years pursuing IVF after studying that her fallopian tubes have been blocked.
As just lately as February, Bunnie revealed they’d discovered a surrogate and have been transferring ahead with plans to welcome twins. Now, with Jelly Roll’s divorce submitting bringing their marriage to an finish, these plans seem unsure.
