Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo Celebrate Major IVF Milestone After Five Months of Struggle
Country music star Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie Xo, are sharing a heartfelt update on their emotional journey to expand their family through in vitro fertilization (IVF). On June 16, 2025, Bunnie, a podcaster and social media influencer, posted an emotional Instagram video capturing her tearful reaction to a long-awaited phone call, marking a significant milestone in their five-month IVF process. The couple, married since 2016, has been open about their desire to have a child together, and this “huge win” has sparked an outpouring of support from fans across platforms like X, where posts celebrated the couple’s resilience.
The video, shared on Bunnie’s Instagram, shows her overwhelmed with joy, hands covering her face as she speaks on the phone. “When you just got the call you’ve been waiting on for 5 months since this IVF journey started,” she wrote. “All the tears, the hopelessness & the struggle, God finally said, ‘Here.’ ????.” Bunnie clarified in the comments that this is not a pregnancy announcement but a critical step forward, emphasizing their commitment to keeping the eventual pregnancy private. “This is just a huge huge milestone for us,” she noted, sparking hope for “Baby DeFord 2026.” Fans on X echoed the sentiment, with one post from CountryRebelCo stating, “After years of trying and five months of painful IVF treatments, Jelly Roll and Bunnie just received some good news.”
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, and Bunnie, 45, first announced their IVF journey in June 2024 on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast. Jelly, 40, shared how the decision prompted his 70-pound weight loss, motivated by a desire to live long enough to see their child grow. Bunnie, stepmother to Jelly’s children—Bailee Ann, 16, and Noah Buddy, 8—has documented the grueling process, including hormone injections and severe side effects like nausea and medical menopause from drugs like Lupron. In a March 2025 TikTok, she described the “rollercoaster” of emotions, saying, “I’m going through all of the emotions, the worry, just so that I can have a little piece of my husband and me.” Her openness has resonated, destigmatizing infertility for many.
The couple’s journey hasn’t been easy. Bunnie has faced health challenges, including endometriosis, PCOS, two ectopic pregnancies, and a botched abortion at 16 that caused lasting reproductive issues, necessitating IVF and surrogacy. In a June 2025 Dumb Blonde podcast episode, she revealed the toll of her second IVF round, describing feeling “rotting from the inside out” and contemplating pausing treatments. Yet, their perseverance paid off with this recent breakthrough, which Bunnie celebrated on TikTok, noting, “The emotional ups and downs of this process I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
Jelly and Bunnie’s transparency has inspired fans, with X posts like WhiskeyRiff’s praising their “huge milestone.” The couple, known for their philanthropy and candidness about personal struggles, plans to keep future updates private until their child’s birth. Jelly, a Grammy nominee and American Idol artist-in-residence, continues to balance his career while supporting Bunnie, whom he calls “the epitome of a good mom” for her bond with Bailee and Noah.
As they await the next steps, Bunnie’s faith shines through, captioning her post, “Praise Jesus!” Their story reflects hope and resilience, with fans rooting for the couple to welcome their child. This milestone, though not the end, marks a triumphant moment in their challenging but hopeful path to parenthood.
