Bunnie XO says she and Jelly Roll are “baby Christians” learning to walk in faith together after finding their way back to God.
The Dumb Blonde podcast host, whose real name is Alisa DeFord, recently opened up about her spiritual journey during an appearance on TODAY, where she promoted her memoir Stripped Down Unfiltered and Unapologetic, released February 17, 2026. In a candid conversation, she described how both she and her husband, three-time Grammy winner Jelly Roll, drifted from their faith for years before rediscovering it in this current chapter of their lives.
“God has always had his hand on our lives, but we strayed from him for the longest time,” she said. “We are baby Christians. He grew up in a Methodist household. I grew up Southern Pentecostal, but I also strayed far from him and dabbled in things that I thought would fill that void. And he went down his own path too.”
Their paths were anything but traditional. The couple met at a country bar in Las Vegas when Bunnie was working as an escort and Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, was still carving out his music career. Both have spoken openly about addiction, legal troubles, and emotional wounds that marked their early years together. They married in 2016 and have since built a life that looks dramatically different from where they started.
Now, faith has become central to their relationship. Bunnie says they feel called to speak openly about their belief in Jesus, even while acknowledging they are still learning.
“We want to tell the world that we love Jesus and we want to show the world that God is working on us and we’re works in progress,” she explained. “We’re not perfect. We are not role models, but we want you guys to know that if God can work through us, he can work through you.”
That message reached a national audience on February 1 at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Jelly Roll took home multiple honors that night, including Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance or Song. During a viral acceptance speech, he centered his gratitude on faith and redemption.
For You
“First of all, Jesus, I hear you and I’m listening,” he said. “Second of all, I want to thank my beautiful wife. I would’ve never changed my life without you. I’d have ended up dead or in jail. I’d have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus.”
At one point, he pulled a Bible from his pocket and reflected on a period in his life when he felt completely broken. He described sitting in a jail cell with nothing but a small Bible and a radio, believing those two things could change his life. He ended his speech by declaring that Jesus is for everybody and not owned by any political party or music label.
The couple’s renewed embrace of Christianity has sparked mixed reactions online. Some critics have questioned the sincerity of public faith declarations by high-profile artists. Bunnie has addressed that backlash directly on her podcast, saying some of the harshest judgment has come from fellow Christians. She maintains their spiritual growth is personal and ongoing rather than performative.
Beyond public moments, Bunnie has said their faith has deepened during private challenges as well, including their plans to grow their family through surrogacy after a difficult fertility journey. She has described those seasons as refining experiences that brought them closer to God rather than pushing them away.
As Jelly Roll’s career continues to soar and Bunnie travels the country on her 2026 book tour, they say their spiritual life remains a daily practice. They pray together, attend church when possible, and lean on scripture while admitting they are still figuring things out.
“We chose to heal together,” Bunnie said. “We choose to grow together. We are ever evolving.”
For two people who once felt lost, calling themselves baby Christians is less about immaturity and more about humility. It is a recognition that faith, like healing, is a lifelong process.
