Podcast host Bunnie Xo has flatly denied viral internet rumors claiming she is dating Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, shutting down the speculation just days after news broke that her husband, country music star Jelly Roll, filed for divorce.
Page Six confirmed that Jelly Roll (real name Jason DeFord), 41, quietly filed to end their nearly 10-year marriage on May 18, 2026, in Williamson County, Tennessee, citing irreconcilable differences.
The timing of the legal filing sparked immediate public scrutiny.
Just hours before the breakup news went public, Bunnie Xo, 46, posted a TikTok video lip-syncing to Nickelback’s iconic 2001 heartbreak anthem “How You Remind Me.”
She paired the video with a glamorous photograph of herself in pink satin lingerie, complete with the caption, “She’s getting her sparkle back ✨.”
Pop culture forums and social media commenters quickly speculated that Bunnie had moved on with Kroeger, 51.
The gossip was further amplified by a throwback video from late May that showed Bunnie hugging the rock singer backstage, accompanied by the text, “The moment I finally got to be back in his arms.”
On the Thursday, June 18 episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast, Bunnie addressed the speculation directly, clarifying the timeline of the post and apologizing to Kroeger for the online narrative.
She explicitly stated to her listeners that she is not with “Daddy Chaddy,” adding that there is no way in hell that would even be a thing, and firmly denied that she cheated on her husband or left him for the rock star.
The Anatomy of a Viral Misunderstanding
According to Bunnie, the viral TikTok post was a matter of unfortunate timing rather than a calculated hint about her love life.
She explained that she had taken a brief hiatus from posting new social media content to focus on her personal well-being during what she described as a “healing era”.
“I posted a Nickelback song because Nickelback is one of my favorite bands,” Bunnie stated during her podcast.
“I post this Nickelback song not thinking anything of it, not a shot at [Jelly Roll]. Not even realizing that it’s a breakup song.
It’s trending on TikTok, so I was like, ‘Oh, f**k yeah, Nickelback’s trending on TikTok, I’m gonna do a TikTok to it.’”
She revealed that she was completely unaware that the news of her impending divorce would break on the exact same day.
“The news drops, I have f***ing Nickelback on my page,” she recalled, describing the immediate influx of comments from users attempting to piece together a romantic connection.
Addressing her nickname for Kroeger, “Daddy Chaddy,” and the backstage footage from late May, Bunnie clarified that the clip was older footage recorded at one of Jelly Roll’s Las Vegas concert stops.
She emphasized that the nickname has always been an inside joke among friends, not an indication of a secret relationship.
“This is so wrong,” Bunnie added, expressing embarrassment over the situation. “I am so sorry to Chad and Nickelback for this happening. It’s embarrassing.
I love them and would never… It’s just so fed up that the internet can just run with a narrative and people just fing run with it.”
Jelly Roll also moved to dispel rumors regarding infidelity or malice behind the split. During a concert performance in Saratoga Springs, New York, the “Save Me” singer addressed the crowd directly to defend his estranged wife.
“Nobody cheated on nobody,” Jelly Roll told the audience, according to video footage shared on Instagram. “She just did a whole podcast about it.
You can go watch it. Every word of it is the truth. That will be my best friend forever… Bunnie, I love you, baby. Thank you for those 10 years. They were incredible.”
The Grammy-nominated country artist echoed Bunnie’s statements, calling out the fast-moving online rumors and reinforcing that the split remains amicable.
While rumors of a third party have been thoroughly debunked, Bunnie used her nearly hour-long podcast episode to provide transparency regarding the actual catalyst for the divorce.
She detailed a severe argument that took place on Mother’s Day, which followed roughly a year of deteriorating communication within their marriage.
The blowout fight left her feeling “so fed up and so tired” that she ultimately looked at Jelly Roll and told him to “file the f***ing divorce papers.”
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the singer listed their official date of separation as May 9, 2026—just one day before the argument occurred.
Following the fight, Bunnie packed a bag and left their shared residence; the couple did not speak for several weeks before the legal filing proceeded.
Despite the swift legal proceedings and moving trucks spotted outside their Tennessee home, the former couple insists their relationship remains highly unconventional but deeply supportive.
During the podcast, Bunnie revealed a detail that shocked many listeners: the two still intend to move forward with their ongoing fertility journey via a surrogate to have a child together, despite no longer being romantically involved.
As for their immediate futures, Bunnie confirmed that while Jelly Roll has cautiously dipped his toes back into the dating pool, she has zero interest in pursuing a new relationship.
“Your girl is not going to ever be in another relationship,” she asserted, stating that her