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.
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.
“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.”
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.”
“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.
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.
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.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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