You probably know her as the "Trailerpark Barbara Walters" or the powerhouse behind the Dumb Blonde podcast. Or, most likely, you know her as the woman standing fiercely beside country star Jelly Roll. But despite being one of the most visible women in the industry right now, most people are still typing bunnie xo real name into Google every single day.
Honestly, it’s not some big state secret. She’s not hiding it because she’s a fugitive. She just built an empire under a different moniker, and by the time she hit the mainstream, "Bunnie" was the only name that stuck.
So, let's get the facts out of the way: Bunnie XO's real name is Alyssa DeFord (née Alisa DeFord).
Depending on where you look—legal documents or old interviews—you’ll see it spelled Alisa or Alyssa. Since marrying Jason DeFord (Jelly Roll’s real name) in 2016, she’s legally taken his last name. But in the world of entertainment, branding is everything. And Alyssa? Well, she’s just Bunnie.
Why "Bunnie XO" and Not Alyssa?
Names are weird. They carry baggage. For Alyssa, her early life wasn't exactly a Hallmark movie. Born in Houston, Texas, and eventually moving to Las Vegas, she dealt with a childhood that would break most people. We're talking about being abandoned by her mother at three months old and being raised by a father, Bill, who was a musician living a "rock and roll" lifestyle.
It wasn't easy.
She’s been very open about her past, including her time in the sex industry as a high-end escort and model. When you're working in those worlds, a stage name is a shield. "Bunnie" was that shield. It allowed her to build a persona that was separate from the girl who grew up in an abusive household or the teenager who was committed to a psychiatric hospital at 14 because her dad didn't know how to handle her lashing out.
By the time she launched her podcast in 2019, the name was already a brand.
The Evolution of the Brand
- Modeling Days: She used "Bunnie XO" while appearing on Playboy TV and various magazine covers.
- The Music Video Era: When she started appearing in Jelly Roll’s videos (like "Beautiful Disaster"), fans knew her as Bunnie.
- The Podcast Boom: Dumb Blonde solidified her as a media personality.
- 2026 and Beyond: With her memoir Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic hitting shelves in February 2026, she's actually leaning more into her legal name, Alisa DeFord, to tell her story.
The Woman Behind the Name
It’s easy to look at the blonde hair, the tattoos, and the "Dumb Blonde" branding and make a snap judgment. People do it all the time. But if you actually listen to her show, you realize she's basically the smartest person in the room.
She didn't just "marry well." When she met Jelly Roll back in 2015 at a Las Vegas concert, she was actually out-earning him. He was living in a van; she was a successful entrepreneur in her own right. She’s the one who helped him get custody of his daughter, Bailee Ann, and she’s the one who has managed much of the "behind the scenes" chaos of their skyrocketing fame.
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Breaking Generational Curses
One of the reasons her real identity matters is because of the work she’s done to heal her past. You can't talk about bunnie xo real name without talking about her family.
Her relationship with her mother, Vanessa, was non-existent for decades. They didn't reconnect until Alyssa was 22. Her mother struggled with addiction and eventually passed away in 2022. Bunnie has talked about how forgiving her mother was the most healing thing she ever did for her "inner child."
Then there’s her dad, Bill. They had a rocky, often violent relationship when she was young. Yet, when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, she stepped up as his primary caretaker. That kind of nuance—being able to love someone who hurt you—is why her fans are so loyal. She’s real.
What’s Happening in 2026?
If you're looking for the most current info, Bunnie is currently on a massive career high. She just announced her 2026 book tour for Stripped Down. She’s hitting NYC, Nashville, LA, and Vegas. This book is a big deal because it’s the first time she’s really putting "Alyssa" on the page in a formal way.
The book covers:
- Her time as a runaway in East Las Vegas.
- The truth about her "high-end" lifestyle before the fame.
- How she built Dumb Blonde Productions.
- The IVF journey she and Jelly Roll have been navigating publicly.
She’s basically showing that no one is irredeemable. You can be a runaway, a sex worker, or a "dumb blonde" and still end up as a mogul.
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Common Misconceptions About Bunnie XO
People get a lot wrong. They think she's just a "trophy wife." Honestly? Jelly would be the first to tell you she's the glue.
- "She's just famous because of Jelly Roll." Incorrect. She had a following and a career before they ever eloped in that 2016 Vegas courthouse ceremony.
- "Her name is just a stage persona." Sorta. It’s a brand, but it’s also who she is now. Most of her close friends call her Bunnie, not Alyssa.
- "She's hiding her past." Literally the opposite. She talks about her "retired heaux" status and her struggles with sobriety more than almost any other celeb.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following her journey, there are a few things you should actually do to get the full picture of who Alyssa DeFord really is.
Listen to the "Origin" episodes of the Dumb Blonde Podcast. Don't just jump into the 2026 interviews with Jon Bon Jovi or Miranda Lambert. Go back. Listen to the episodes where she talks about her dad and her childhood. That's where the "real name" becomes a real person.
Follow her IVF journey if you're looking for authenticity. She and Jelly have been very transparent about trying to have a baby together in 2025 and 2026. It's a side of her that's far removed from the glitz of the CMA red carpet.
Pre-order the memoir. If you want the unfiltered version of Alyssa DeFord, the book is where she’s dropping the receipts. It's scheduled for release on February 10, 2026.
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At the end of the day, whether you call her Alyssa or Bunnie, she’s a reminder that your starting point doesn't define your finish line. She took a name that could have been a joke and turned it into a multi-million dollar business. That's not just luck—that's a hustle.
To get the most out of her content, start by watching her 2023 vow renewal video on Instagram. It’s a perfect snapshot of her and Jelly’s "white trash love story" that has somehow become the most wholesome thing on the internet.