Jelly Roll Receives Emotional Father’s Day Salute From Bunnie XO: ‘The Example Of What A Man Should Be Like’

Bunnie XO praised Jelly Roll’s role as a father to Bailee Ann.

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

June 18, 2023

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7:54 pm

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Jelly Roll, Bailee Ann, Bunnie XO; Photo via Instagram

Bunnie XO shared a heartfelt message for her husband Jelly Roll in honor of Father’s Day.

On Sunday (June 18), the Dumb Blonde Podcast host shared a photo of herself posed alongside Jelly Roll and his 15-year-old daughter, Bailee Ann.

“Happy Pappy’s Day to a KING! 👑” Bunnie XO wrote. ”The past almost 7 years have been such a blur of smashing goals & building empires together. To say we have both become the best versions of ourselves together, has been an understatement.”

A Heartfelt Message

She went on to praise Jelly Roll’s role as a father to his teenage daughter.

“But the most beautiful journey I’ve been able to witness you thrive in, is you & Bailee falling in love. I watched you fight for her, grow w/ her & show her the example of what a man should be like,” Bunnie continued. ”Every little girl’s first love is her Daddy & she will always have high standards because of the one you are to her. You are the realest! 🩵💫✨”

Bunnie XO concluded her post with a toast to fathers everywhere.

Jelly Roll, Bunnie XO; Photo via Instagram
Jelly Roll, Bunnie XO; Photo via Instagram

“Cheers to all you dad’s who set examples for their kids to look up to, who sacrifice their own lives selfish needs to be present, who love gently & pick those babies up when they need it- this is your day. 🥂 (& to the mama’s who do it all also),” Bunnie XO added.

Jelly Roll and his wife Bunnie XO have been raising Bailee Ann since 2016 when the couple obtained full custody of her. The “Son Of A Sinner” singer previously opened up about Bunnie XO becoming a mother figure for Bailee.

“It just takes a real selfless person to help raise a child they didn’t birth,” Jelly Roll previously shared on social media. “It takes a special kind of woman to raise a kid that isn’t her child and still treat the child as if she was. Bunnie is a beautiful soul. She is kind, patient, and caring. Over the years watching her relationship with Bailee blossom into this beautiful mother daughter bond that it has become has been nothing short of magical. I have truly been blessed with the best partner I could’ve asked for in life. You are the epitome of a good mom and deserve more credit than anyone because you didn’t have to step up to the plate the way you did. You chose to step up and man you have knocked it out of the park . Thank you, Mama Bear – we love you.”

Jelly Roll’s Daughter

Bailee Ann was born on May 22, 2008. At the time, Jelly Roll was in prison, but vowed to turn his life around for his daughter.

“15 years ago, just about a month ago… she was born and I was incarcerated when she was born. And that was the moment for me where I was like, ‘man, it’s one thing to be a less than desirable human, but it’s another thing to be a less than desirable human, responsible for another human,’” Jelly Roll recently shared during a discussion with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. ”And I knew that if I wanted to be a good father, it started with being a good person and I had to make some changes. I came home determined to figure it out for her and for myself. And I started selling mix tapes outta my trunk right here on Demonbreun Street, a little bar called the Tin Roof that you should definitely stop by while you’re in town.”

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New Album

Bailee Ann’s faith inspired the chart-topping hitmaker’s new album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, which arrived on June 2, 2023.

“Bailee approached me about six, seven, eight months ago about this little church she’s been going to with all her cool friends,” Jelly Roll told Taste Of Country ahead of the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM Awards). “And it’s off a back-a** country road, it’s in an elementary-through-high-school auditorium, maybe 80 people and 20 of them are youth.”

The project named after the church the Antioch, Tennessee native grew up attending, features 13 tracks, including the fan-favorite tunes “NEED A FAVOR” and “SHE.”

Jelly Roll -- Whitsitt Chapel
Jelly Roll — Whitsitt Chapel

“This album is about growth and gratitude happening in my life. I wanted to create a project that felt hopeful. I believe the worst feeling a person can have is feeling hopeless or worthless. This is therapeutic music. Real music for real people with real problems,” Jelly Roll previously shared in a statement.

WHITSITT CHAPEL, which serves as Jelly Roll’s debut full-length country record via BMG/Stoney Creek Records, also includes three collaborations. Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings join Jelly Roll on “Behind Bars” and Yelawolf is featured on “Unlive,” while Lainey Wilson teamed up with the 38-year-old hitmaker to recreate his fan-favorite tune, “Save Me.”

2023 Tour

Additionally, Jelly Roll will soon embark on his massive 44-date headlining arena tour, dubbed the Backroad Baptism Tour.

Jelly Roll; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Jelly Roll; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

Hosted by Josh Adam Meyers, the trek kicks off on Friday, July 28 at Bank Plus Amphitheater in Southhaven, Mississippi. The Backroad Baptism will run through Saturday, October 14, where the trek will wrap up in Tampa, Florida at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.

“The Backroad Baptism Tour is a big one for me, y’all! I’m bringing my friends out on the road this summer, and I can’t wait to see every one of you mutherf***ers at a show,” Jelly Roll shared.

Ashley McBryde, Caitlynne Curtis, Chase Rice, Elle King, Merkules, Struggle Jennings, Three 6 Mafia, Yelawolf will serve as support on select dates of the tour.

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Jelly Roll also recently released his documentary, Jelly Roll: Save Me. The film by ABC New Studios gives viewers an inside look at the “Son Of A Sinner” singer’s life on the road with never-before-seen footage from his tour. It also includes interviews with Jelly Roll and people who are close to him.

With a desire to inspire others to make a change in their lives, Jelly Roll shared his personal trials and tribulations throughout film, which debuted on May 30.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.