{"id":88682,"date":"2024-12-07T10:50:07","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T03:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/levanews.com\/?p=44109"},"modified":"2024-12-07T10:50:22","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T03:50:22","slug":"bunnie-xos-confession-why-she-wasnt-with-her-dad-when-he-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/bunnie-xos-confession-why-she-wasnt-with-her-dad-when-he-died\/","title":{"rendered":"Bunnie Xo\u2019s confession: Why she wasn\u2019t with her dad when he died"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em>The holiday season often brings joy and togetherness, but for country music star Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO, this time of year holds a bittersweet significance.\n<p>As Thanksgiving passes and Christmas nears, the memory of Bunnie\u2019s cherished father, Bill, who passed away in May after a brave battle with cancer, looms heavily in their hearts.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"' wp-image-44110 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/intro-1708264641.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"972\"' height='\"546\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3>Bunnie and Bill: A Complex Relationship\n</h3><p>Alyssa &ldquo;Bunnie&rdquo; DeFord was born on January 22, 1980, in Houston, Texas. From ages five to 12, she lived amidst a chaotic rock &lsquo;n&rsquo; roll lifestyle in Las Vegas, led by her father, Bill, a struggling musician battling alcoholism. It was far from a nurturing environment for a child.\n</p><p style='\"text-align:' center>\u00a0 \n</p><p>When Bunnie turned 12, everything changed. Her father and stepmother embraced religion and imposed strict rules, banning secular music and restricting anything above a G rating. While her stepmother taught her valuable life skills, their relationship was strained, marred by verbal and physical abuse.\n</p><p>Following an incident where Bunnie was attacked by three girls, her father decided to teach her self-defense. Determined to make sure she wouldn\u2019t lose another fight, Bill spent two weeks in their backyard teaching her the basics.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-44111 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/Anh-thumbnail-bai-dang-web-4-39-1.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"945\"' height='\"494\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3>Leaving Her Father\u2019s House at 14\n</h3><p>Bunnie struggled with anger as a teenager and often got into fights at school. At 14, the tension reached a breaking point, and she decided to leave her father\u2019s house, essentially running away. She never returned.\n</p><p>Despite their tumultuous relationship, Bunnie and Bill eventually reconnected. Over the years, they rebuilt their bond and always had each other\u2019s backs. Bill even appeared as a guest on Bunnie\u2019s podcast multiple times, reflecting the closeness they shared.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-44112 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/Jelly-Rolls-Wife-Bunnie-XO-and-her-Dad-Bill-Photo-Courtesy-of-Social-Media-800x533-1.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"968\"' height='\"645\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3>Bill\u2019s Cancer Diagnosis\n</h3><p>In 2022, Bill was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. For a year, he fought his illness quietly, but as his condition worsened, he confided in Bunnie.\n</p><p>\u201cI 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,\u201d Bunnie shared. \u201cHe insisted no one know so he could try to heal it himself because he\u2019s into holistic remedies. Sadly the cancer has now spread into his bone marrow and &amp; his bones are breaking, he can\u2019t lift his arms, walk, barely eat &amp; he\u2019s in so much pain you can\u2019t even hug him.\u201d\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-44115 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/462581429_493587893113261_946845930123079533_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"978\"' height='\"1209\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>Following the devastating news, Bill moved from Texas to Tennessee to be closer to Bunnie and her husband, Jelly Roll. The family shared his journey with fans, documenting the highs and lows of his battle with cancer.\n</p><h3>Bill\u2019s Final Days\n</h3><p>In November 2023, Bill was placed in hospice care, and while he made significant progress with palliative treatment, the outcome was inevitable. On May 8, 2024, Bunnie shared the heartbreaking news of her father\u2019s passing.\n</p><p>\u201cHey Bill, I\u2019m going to miss you,\u201d Bunnie, 44, wrote. \u201cYou are still my favorite rock star &amp; my hero. This one\u2019s going to hurt.\u201d\n</p><p>She added, \u201cRest easy &amp; don\u2019t make too many angels fall in love,\u201d alongside photos of Bill playing guitar, sharing moments with a young Bunnie, and receiving cheek kisses from her and Jelly Roll.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-44114 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/462583468_1549197085788350_3242434790346807839_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"1536\"' height='\"2048\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3>Why Bunnie Wasn\u2019t at Bill\u2019s Deathbed\n</h3><p>In an episode of her podcast, <em>Dumb Blonde, Bunnie opened up about the final days of her father\u2019s life and why she wasn\u2019t there when he passed. She revealed that their relationship had hit a rocky patch after Bill confided in her about being mistreated by his wife.\n<p>\u201cThis entire situation of us not talking to each other was because he came to me and told me that his wife was abusing him,\u201d Bunnie explained. \u201cAnd I \u2014 rightfully so, as his daughter \u2014 stuck up for him, and he turned on me because of that.\u201d\n</p><p>Bunnie also shared that she was unaware Bill had been readmitted to the hospital shortly before his death. She expressed anger and frustration toward his wife, Suzanne, whom she felt kept her from her father in his final moments.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-44113 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/452762341_1097760208732776_2594814607859147544_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"1548\"' height='\"1024\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>\u201cI texted her, and I was like, \u2018How dare you take my dad from me, and not only that, but my dad\u2019s so sick that the last conversation I\u2019m gonna have with my dad is me being mad at him?\u2019\u201d Bunnie recalled. \u201cWe had words back and forth, and I was like, \u2018There\u2019s a special place in hell for women like you.\u2019\u201d\n</p><p>Although she arranged for a private jet to see her father, she was unable to reach him in time to say goodbye.\n</p><h3>Reflecting on Thanksgiving\n</h3><p>Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, Bunnie and Bill\u2019s bond was undeniable. As the holidays approached, Bunnie reflected on her father\u2019s absence, sharing a touching video from Thanksgiving the previous year\u2014a celebration that held special meaning for Bill.\n</p><p>\u201cThanksgiving was always the time my dad would show up,\u201d Bunnie wrote. \u201cWe could go the whole year without speaking, but no matter who he was with, he\u2019d always pop up on Thanksgiving.\u201d\n</p><blockquote class='\"tiktok-embed\"' cite='\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@xomgitsbunnie\/video\/7442465499616677150\"' data-video-id='\"7442465499616677150\"' data-embed-from='\"oembed\"' style='\"max-width:605px;' min-width:325px>\n<section> <a target='\"_blank\"' title='\"@xomgitsbunnie\"' href="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/www.tiktok.com%5C/@xomgitsbunnie?refer=embed%5C%22" rel='\"noopener\"'>@xomgitsbunnie \n<p>It hits a little harder today for some reason, I dont think ibe grieved the loss from both my parents yet. \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f  Thankful for my widdle family \ud83e\udd0d <a title='\"bunnieandbill\"' target='\"_blank\"' href="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/www.tiktok.com%5C/tag%5C/bunnieandbill?refer=embed%5C%22" rel='\"noopener\"'>#bunnieandbill \n<p> <a target='\"_blank\"' title='\"\u266c' pronk jax_canniff href="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/www.tiktok.com%5C/music%5C/Pronk-7300748055505111850?refer=embed%5C%22" rel='\"noopener\"'>\u266c Pronk &ndash; Jax_Canniff \n\n<p> <script async src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/www.tiktok.com%5C/embed.js%5C%22"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>She added, \u201cIn this video, I knew in my heart it would be our last one together. I just didn\u2019t realize it would hurt like this today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bunnie\u2019s followers offered an outpouring of love and support during this difficult time. One fan wrote, \u201cSending you all the love. Bill is sitting on a different table this year, watching from above.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s these moments of kindness that remind us of the strength and comfort found in the love of others, even amidst grief.<\/p>\n<p>As Bunnie and her family continue to navigate this challenging journey, their fans\u2019 unwavering support provides much-needed solace. Let\u2019s keep them in our thoughts and prayers, sending positive energy their way during this tough season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The holiday season often brings joy and togetherness, but for country music star Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO, this time of year holds a bittersweet significance. As Thanksgiving passes and Christmas nears, the memory of Bunnie\u2019s cherished father, Bill, who passed away in May after a brave battle with cancer, looms heavily in &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":88684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1442,670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88682"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88691,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88682\/revisions\/88691"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</body></html></script></p></a></p></a></p></a></section></blockquote></em></p></em></strong></p>