Lead: On a recent appearance on Today with Jenna and Sheinelle, 46-year-old Bunnie Xo (Alisa DeFord) described an immediate kinship with her husband Jelly Roll’s 17-year-old daughter, Bailee Ann. She told hosts that, when they first met, she felt she was seeing a younger version of herself and that that recognition helped reshape her path as a partner and parent. The conversation, tied to the release of her memoir Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, also touched on the couple’s plans for IVF and a surrogate. Bunnie framed Bailee’s presence as a catalyst for emotional growth in her family.
Key Takeaways
- Bunnie Xo, 46, said she felt an instant parallel when she first met her stepdaughter Bailee Ann, 17, whom husband Jelly Roll fathered in a prior relationship.
- She told Today that seeing Bailee’s independence and resilience prompted her to want to give the teen opportunities she herself missed.
- Bunnie described discussing Bailee as the only topic on her current book tour that makes her tear up, calling the teen a catalyst for the couple’s emotional maturation.
- In her memoir Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic, Bunnie says the couple has secured a surrogate and plans to begin IVF stimulation.
- She has spoken publicly about fears of repeating childhood trauma and says raising Bailee eased some of those anxieties about having biological children.
Background
Bunnie Xo, born Alisa DeFord, has built a public profile as a podcaster, model and author while married to country artist Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord. Their relationship and its personal work have featured in media coverage across interviews and her memoir, which recounts their healing over the past decade together. Stepfamilies and blended-family dynamics are common in celebrity reporting, and Bunnie’s remarks about stepping into a parenting role reflect broader conversations about nonbiological caregiving and attachment.
Their family story intersects with common themes in modern parenting: recovery from past trauma, the use of assisted reproductive technology, and the legal and emotional roles of stepparents. In recent years many public figures have described using surrogacy and IVF; Bunnie places her own plans in that context while emphasizing the emotional preparation the couple undertook. Her public openness about these choices contributes to evolving norms around family formation in the public eye.
Main Event
Speaking on Today with Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones, Bunnie described the moment she met Bailee and how it felt like looking at a younger version of herself. She contrasted their shared histories of parental instability and praised Bailee’s independence, calling her headstrong and tenacious. Bunnie said that recognizing herself in Bailee motivated both her and Jelly Roll to stop avoiding adulthood and to commit to creating a stable household.
The interview included reflections drawn from Bunnie’s memoir, where she details the couple’s decision to pursue parenthood through surrogacy and IVF. She described securing a surrogate and preparing to start IVF stim injections, framing the steps as part of a long-term plan now possible because of improved stability. Bunnie repeatedly emphasized that, although Bailee is not her biological child, she considers the teen her daughter and pledged ongoing support.
Emotion surfaced when she discussed how raising Bailee affected her confidence about having biological children. Bunnie said her greatest fear had been passing on unwanted trauma, and watching Bailee’s growth reassured her that careful, attentive parenting could break that cycle. The segment combined anecdote, memoir excerpts and plainspoken reflection, giving viewers a window into both family dynamics and the emotional stakes behind their reproductive plans.
Analysis & Implications
Bunnie Xo’s remarks underscore several broader trends: increasing visibility of blended families, candid celebrity discussions of reproductive choices, and a shift toward normalizing nonbiological parenting roles. When a public figure frames a stepchild as central to personal growth, it can affect public conversations around what makes a parent, emphasizing care and commitment over genetics. This narrative resonates with many blended-family households where emotional bonds form outside of biology.
The public discussion of IVF and surrogacy in the interview also highlights how assisted reproduction has become a common part of family planning for people across socioeconomic ranges, though access and cost remain barriers for many. Celebrity disclosures can raise awareness but may also oversimplify the complexities—medical, legal and financial—of surrogacy and IVF. Observers should separate the emotional narrative from the technical and regulatory realities of assisted reproduction.
From a media standpoint, Bunnie’s openness about fear of repeating childhood trauma contributes to destigmatizing mental-health-informed parenting. Her account suggests that personal healing and relationship stability influence decisions to expand a family. For supporters and critics alike, the couple’s choices will be watched as part of a larger cultural dialogue on accountability, recovery and the responsibilities of public figures who parent in the spotlight.
Reactions & Quotes
The Today segment prompted responses from fans and followers on social platforms who praised the couple’s honesty. Media commentary has largely focused on the emotional candor of Bunnie’s account and the couple’s plans for assisted reproduction. Below are representative short quotes from her interview and memoir, with context.
When I met Bailee, I was looking at a younger version of me.
Today with Jenna and Sheinelle (NBC interview)
In the interview, Bunnie used that memory to explain why she invested emotionally in Bailee’s welfare and how that commitment changed the family’s trajectory.
Nothing on this book tour gets me to tear up or choke up besides talking about her.
Today with Jenna and Sheinelle (NBC interview)
She said discussing Bailee is uniquely emotional because the teen spurred both partners to grow up and take responsibility for the household’s future.
J and I have a surrogate, the sweetest woman ever, and soon I’ll be starting my IVF stims.
Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic (memoir)
This line from her memoir lays out the couple’s reproductive plan as reported by Bunnie herself, and media outlets have cited it when covering the story.
Unconfirmed
- The public report that the couple has a surrogate comes from Bunnie’s memoir and interviews; the surrogate’s identity and exact legal arrangements have not been publicly verified.
- The timing and medical specifics of the planned IVF stimulation are described by Bunnie in her memoir but are not independently confirmed by medical providers or public records.
- Reports that the couple hopes for twins reflect statements of intent rather than a clinical outcome; no pregnancy or birth has been announced.
Bottom Line
Bunnie Xo’s account of seeing herself in stepdaughter Bailee frames a personal story about healing, accountability and what it means to parent beyond biology. Her candid discussion on Today and in her memoir connects emotional narrative with concrete plans for expanding her family through IVF and surrogacy. That combination of vulnerability and concrete steps invites public empathy while also raising questions about the private logistics of assisted reproduction that remain unverified.
For readers, the episode is notable less for celebrity detail than for its themes: the potential of nonbiological bonds to change life choices, and the role of personal recovery in decisions about parenthood. Observers should expect more reporting as the couple moves through IVF steps or if they announce pregnancies, and they should weigh memoir claims against future confirmations from medical or legal sources.