The end of Bunnie XO and Jelly Roll’s nearly decade-long marriage has sparked plenty of headlines, but now, attention is shifting to a chapter of her life long before the country star entered the picture.
As Jelly Roll publicly insists their split remains amicable, one of Bunnie’s former husbands is sharing deeply personal memories about their relationship, their struggles, and the heartbreak that followed.
While fans were stunned by news of their divorce, both Bunnie XO and Jelly Roll have made it clear that there is no public war unfolding between them.
During a concert in Saratoga Springs, the Grammy Award winner paused to address speculation surrounding the end of their marriage. The singer told fans that despite filing for divorce in May, he and Bunnie remain close.
According to the musician, they are still “best friends” and “will always be best friends.”
Bunnie echoed a similar sentiment on a recent episode of her podcast, “Dumb Blonde,” where she described the breakup as ending “on the best possible terms.”
Their split came as a surprise to many followers who had watched the pair overcome addiction struggles, public scrutiny, and even an admitted affair during their years together.
Yet insiders have suggested that the couple’s increasingly different public identities may have contributed to the decision.
One source previously claimed that Jelly Roll’s highly visible embrace of Christianity clashed with Bunnie’s candid discussions about sex and relationships on her podcast and social media platforms.
Bunnie’s Ex-Husband Recalls Their Unusual Beginning
As Bunnie XO navigates life after Jelly Roll, her former husband Francisco “Frankie” Lombardo is shedding light on the relationship they shared years earlier.
Lombardo told the Daily Mail that meeting the podcast host in 2009 changed his life. At the time, he was confiding in her about problems with another relationship while she was married to Christopher Gilbert and working as a dancer in Las Vegas.
According to Lombardo, Bunnie was hustling to make ends meet and had financial support from several “sugar daddies.” Their connection developed quickly. He recalled meeting both Bunnie and Gilbert together before she unexpectedly whispered, “I want to make out with you.”
Within a week, Lombardo had moved in with her. Although the circumstances appeared complicated, Lombardo insisted there was no cheating involved and maintained that Bunnie and Gilbert had already separated before their romance began.
After Gilbert’s marriage officially ended, Bunnie and Lombardo tied the knot in Maui on Valentine’s Day 2010. “We were like, ‘Hey, let’s go to Hawaii and let’s get married.’ And we did it,” Lombardo recalled.
He described their marriage as adventurous and intensely close, comparing their dynamic to Bonnie and Clyde. “We’re f*****g best friends,” he said while reflecting on that period of their lives.
Bunnie XO’s Lifestyle Became A Major Source Of Tension
Despite their strong bond, Lombardo said one issue repeatedly created friction in their marriage.
“When I met her, she said to me right out of the gate, ‘I just want to let you know that I have a couple sugar daddies,’” he recalled.
The arrangement became difficult for him to accept. “I was super jealous,” Lombardo admitted, explaining that he wanted Bunnie entirely to himself. The situation reportedly led to arguments throughout their relationship.
Bunnie has openly discussed her history with wealthy benefactors in the past, previously revealing that she received “half a million dollars” from sugar daddies who showered her with luxury gifts.
She has also acknowledged that she was still financially relying on clients during the early stages of her relationship with Jelly Roll.
“I literally went on tour with him and was seeing clients just to fund our life at the time,” she revealed on her podcast.
According to Bunnie, she was working as a high-end escort in Las Vegas and earning significant sums while helping support their lifestyle.
Lombardo said the reality of that world was often difficult for him, even though he understood it was part of who she was when they met.
Bunnie And Lombardo Faced Heartbreak Before Their Divorce
Beyond relationship tensions, the former couple also faced serious personal challenges. Lombardo revealed that his family’s legal troubles placed enormous strain on their marriage.
After his parents lost their home following criminal proceedings, they moved in with them. The arrangement proved overwhelming.
“With everything crashing down,” Lombardo said he reached the “lowest point” of his life. He believes those circumstances played a major role in the collapse of the marriage.
Another painful issue involved the couple’s efforts to start a family. Lombardo said both he and Bunnie XO desperately wanted children and pursued fertility treatments together.
“I really wanted a baby with her. She wanted to have a baby,” he explained. The experience mirrors fertility struggles Bunnie later discussed while married to Jelly Roll. On “Dumb Blonde,” she described IVF as “one of the loneliest, darkest journeys.”
She revealed that the process had left her emotionally drained and that Jelly Roll’s own treatment for a low sperm count created additional challenges.
Even so, she recently insisted that they still plan to become parents despite their divorce.
Bunnie XO’s Former Husband Thinks Her Next Chapter Is Just Beginning
Although Lombardo admitted their breakup devastated him, he maintained a friendship with Bunnie over the years.
One of the most painful periods came when she entered a relationship with another man after their split. Lombardo said watching her endure alleged abuse was “a nightmare.”
Referencing a figure identified as “Karma” in Bunnie’s memoir, he recalled seeing her arrive at his home seriously injured and said he preferred not to revisit those memories.
Lombardo’s own life has not been without controversy. He faced domestic battery allegations in 2023, though the case was dismissed in 2024. He has denied wrongdoing, stating: “I would never put my hands on a woman.”
Despite everything that has happened, he believes Bunnie is entering a transformative period. “I think we’re going to witness her really kind of blossom now and kind of step into herself a little bit more as an individual and not really be in the Jelly shadow,” he said.
Still, he could not resist offering one final piece of advice to the woman he once thought he would spend forever with. “I was like, ‘Just do me a favor. Don’t get f*****g married.’ It’d be the fourth time. It makes no sense,” he shared.
