Bunnie Xo’s confession: Why she wasn’t with her dad when he died

The holidays are a time for joy and togetherness, but for country star Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO, this season carries a bittersweet note.

As Thanksgiving fades and Christmas approaches, the memory of Bunnie’s beloved father, Bill — who passed away in May after a courageous battle with cancer —looms large in their hearts.

Bunnie and Bill: A complicated relationship

Alyssa “Bunnie” DeFord was born on January 22, 1980, in Houston, Texas. From ages five to 12, she grew up immersed in a chaotic rock ‘n roll lifestyle in Las Vegas, led by her father, Bill, a struggling musician battling alcoholism. It wasn’t exactly the kind of environment you’d call child-friendly.

When Bunnie turned 12, everything shifted. Her father and stepmother embraced religion, enforcing strict rules that banned secular music and restricted anything rated above G. While her stepmother taught her some valuable life skills, their relationship was marred by verbal and physical abuse.

After Bunnie was ambushed by three girls and left shaken, her father decided to teach her how to fight. Determined she wouldn’t lose another fight, Bill spent two weeks in their backyard showing her the basics of self-defense.

Left her father’s house when she was 14

Bunnie was a pretty angry kid and often found herself in fights at school. It was a turbulent time, and when she was 14, she decided to leave her dad’s house and basically ran away. She never went back.

There’s no doubt that their father-daughter relationship was rocky, but over the years, they found their way back to each other and knew they always had each other’s backs. Bunnie has always had a strong bond with her dad, who has even appeared as a guest on her podcast multiple on several occasions.

Bunnie XO’s dad diagnosed with cancer

In 2022, Bunnie XO’s dad, Bill, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

For a year, he quietly fought his illness, but as things got worse, he opened up to Bunnie about his condition.

“I received one of the worst calls yesterday that shook me to my core. My dad has been silently battling Stage 4 cancer for the past year alone w/just his wife,” she said. “He insisted no one know so he could try to heal it himself because he’s into holistic remedies. Sadly the cancer has now spread into his bone marrow and & his bones are breaking, he can’t lift his arms, walk, barely eat & he’s in so much pain you can’t even hug him.”

After those devastating cancer news, Bill made the move from Texas to Tennessee to be closer to Bunnie and her country superstar husband. The family shared much of his journey, allowing fans to be a part of the ups and downs as he faced his illness with strength and courage.

The final days of Bill’s life 

Bill was placed in hospice care last November, but he made remarkable progress with the palliative care he received. Unfortunately, despite the efforts, the inevitable could not be avoided.

The Dumb Blonde podcast host and wife of Jelly Roll shared the heartbreaking news of her father’s passing on May 8, 2024.

“Hey Bill, I’m going to miss you,” began Bunnie, 44. “You are still my favorite rock star & my hero. This one’s going to hurt.”

“Rest easy & don’t make too many angels fall in love,” she wrote, posting pictures of Bill playing guitar, enjoying moments with young Bunnie, and receiving sweet cheek kisses from both her and Jelly.

Why Bunnie wasn’t at her dad’s deathbed

In on of her episodes of the Dumb Blonde podcast, Bunnie shared the emotional details of Bill’s final days, explaining some details that few knew about.

For example, she confessed why she wasn’t by his cancer-stricken father’s side when he took his last breath. ”This entire situation of us not talking to each other was because he came to me and told me that his wife was abusing him,” she said. ”And I — rightfully so, as his daughter — stuck up for him, and he turned on me because of that.”

Bunnie was also not informed that Bill had been readmitted to the hospital shortly before his death. As time passed, her anger grew, especially toward her father’s wife, Suzanne, whom she felt was keeping her away from her family.

”I texted her, and I was like, ‘How dare you take my dad from me, and not only that, but my dad’s so sick that the last conversation I’m gonna have with my dad is me being mad at him?’” Bunnie recalled. ”…We had words back and forth, and I was like, ‘There’s a special place in hell for women like you.’”

Bunnie did everything she could to reach her dad before he passed, even arranging for a private jet, but despite her efforts, she couldn’t make it to say goodbye.

Heartfelt post on Thanksgiving

So, we know that Bunnie and her father, Bill, had their ups and downs, but their bond was undeniably strong. For anyone who’s lost a loved one, we know how tough holidays can be. And for Bunnie, this was definitely the case. In a heartfelt post on social media, she shared a video from last year’s Thanksgiving celebrations, a holiday that was especially meaningful to her father.

”Thanksgiving was always the time my dad would show up,” she wrote. ”We could go the whole year without speaking, but no matter who he was with, he’d always pop up on Thanksgiving.”

Bunnie also reflected on the emotions she experienced during their Thanksgiving celebration last year.

”In this video, I knew in my heart it would be our last one together,” Bunnie shared. ”I just didn’t realize it would hurt like this today.”

During this incredibly tough period, many of Bunnie’s followers have continued to send her their love and support, which means the world to her. One follower wrote something especially heartfelt that really captured the sentiment: “Sending you all the love. Bill is sitting on a different table this year, watching from above. 🫶”

It’s moments like these that remind us of the comfort and strength we can find in the love of others, even when we’re grieving.

As Bunnie and her family navigates this difficult journey, let’s continue to keep her in our thoughts and prayers. The love and support she’s receiving from her fans is truly uplifting, and every prayer counts. Sending positive vibes and strength her way — we’re all in this together. 🙏🫶

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