Jelly Roll Praises His Wife Bunnie Xo during Emotional Grammy Acceptance Speech
Jelly Roll during the 2026 Grammys.
Credit :
Kevin Winter/Getty
Jelly Roll received the award for Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken at the 2026 Grammy Awards, held on February 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. During an emotionally charged acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to his wife, Bunnie Xo, who he credited with saving his life during his darkest moments.
Through tears, Jelly Roll reflected on the crucial support from his wife as he took the stage. “I would have killed myself if it wasn’t for you,” he stated, highlighting the impact she has had on his journey. “First of all, Jesus, I hear you, and I’m listening. Lord, I am listening. Lord. Second of all, I want to thank my beautiful wife. I would have never changed my life without you.”
The award represents a significant achievement for Jelly Roll, whose music often draws from his troubled past and recovery journey. He spoke candidly about the challenges that inspired his award-winning album. “There was a time in my life, y’all, that I was broken. I didn’t think I had a chance… There was days that I thought the darkest things. I was a horrible human,” he noted.
His reflections included a pivotal period during his incarceration, which he described as transformative. “There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big, and a radio the same size, and a six-by-eight-foot cell… I believe that music had the power to change my life,” he said, emphasizing the universal accessibility of faith. “Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label.”
Jelly Roll’s relationship with Bunnie Xo dates back several years before his rise to fame. The couple became engaged in 2016 during a performance in Las Vegas and later had a secret courthouse wedding on the same night.
The 2026 Grammy Awards also introduced new categories, including Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Album, while the previous Best Country Album category was renamed Best Contemporary Country Album.
