Bunnie XO is opening up about the deeply emotional and physically exhausting reality of her IVF journey alongside her husband, Jelly Roll.
On a recent episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast, the 45-year-old host — whose real name is Alyssa DeFord — revealed why she hasn’t been seen publicly with her 40-year-old country star husband in recent months.
“Somebody said the other day, ‘They used to always be together. Now you never see them together,’” Bunnie recalled, referencing her and the Save Me singer. “I’m like, do you guys not know that for the past six months I’ve been trying to make a baby? My husband has to work to bring home the bacon.”
She explained that while she has the luxury of working from home, Jelly Roll’s career requires frequent appearances. “I’ve literally been on IVF meds for six months, going through heartbreak and so much emotional and physical stress,” she admitted.
A Rare Public Appearance Amid the Struggle
Despite the challenges, Bunnie made a rare public appearance in early August at SummerSlam 2025 to support Jelly Roll during his WWE in-ring debut against Logan Paul.
Bunnie — who is stepmom to Jelly’s children, 16-year-old Bailee Ann and 7-year-old Noah Buddy — has been candid with fans about her IVF experience, sharing regular updates on her podcast and social media.
In late July, she posted a heartfelt TikTok reflecting on the first half of 2025, writing:
“I’ve had to miss a lot of fun things. My body has been through the ringer & I’m exhausted mentally & physically. But I can feel the light shifting. I’m finally coming out of the cocoon & trusting that God’s timing is never wrong.”
A Milestone in the IVF Process
Earlier this summer, Bunnie revealed that she and Jelly Roll had received long-awaited good news in their IVF journey.
“When you just got the call you’ve been waiting on for 5 months since this IVF journey started,” she shared in an emotional Instagram post. “All the tears, the hopelessness & the struggle — God finally said, ‘Here.’”
She was quick to clarify, however, that it wasn’t a pregnancy announcement. “We won’t announce that,” she wrote in the comments. “This is just a huge win for us.”
The Emotional Weight of IVF
Back in March, Bunnie described the IVF process as incredibly isolating. “It’s just you, these hormones, the waiting, and the egg retrieval … It’s a lot to bear,” she said on her podcast.
Her honesty continues to resonate with fans, shedding light on the often unseen struggles of fertility treatments — and showing that stepping away from the spotlight isn’t about distance, but about focusing on what matters most.
