Jelly Roll is adding another impressive credit to his growing résumé. The country music superstar has been tapped as one of several celebrity guest hosts set to take over “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” while Jimmy Kimmel takes a two-month summer hiatus. Kimmel made the announcement during Thursday night’s show, revealing a lineup that includes Tiffany Haddish, Colman Domingo, Anthony Anderson, and more. Jelly Roll is no stranger to the late-night spotlight, having previously guest-hosted two episodes of the ABC program in 2025.
Another notable addition to Kimmel’s guest-host roster is Rosie O’Donnell, who will make her debut behind the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” desk. Kimmel joked that he had invited one of President Donald Trump‘s “all-time favorites” to fill in for him, a reference to O’Donnell’s decades-long public feud with the president.
While unveiling his temporary replacements, Kimmel joked about stepping away from the show. “I will be taking the next two months off, this time voluntarily,” the comedian said, a playful reference to the controversy surrounding his show in late 2025, when “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was briefly suspended following backlash over comments he made regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk‘s death.
Kimmel is expected to return to the late-night desk following Labor Day.
Jelly Roll’s New TV Role Comes During A Busy Personal Chapter
The hosting announcement arrived during a highly publicized week for Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO. On the same evening Kimmel announced his guest-host lineup, Bunnie released a candid podcast episode discussing major changes in their relationship.
“We stopped communicating together, um, in the past year and a half,” Bunnie said. “And I think it’s safe for me to say that I always loved my husband a little bit more than he loved me.”
Bunnie went on to describe herself as “the glue” that held the marriage together, explaining that she and Jelly Roll often approached relationships differently. “He’s the runner, I’m the chaser,” she said.
According to Bunnie, tensions came to a head following an argument on Mother’s Day. While she stressed that infidelity played no role in their breakup, she admitted that frustration led her to tell Jelly Roll to file for divorce.
“I was so fed up,” she recalled, noting that she never expected him to actually move forward with the paperwork. “Was I blindsided? Was this divorce mutual? No. It was not mutual. Even though I told him to file the divorce papers, I was speaking out of anger and just frustration.”
Bunnie XO Says She And Jelly Roll Are Parting On Good Terms
Later in the episode, Bunnie emphasized that she and Jelly Roll remain committed to one another. “My husband and I are ending this marriage on the best possible terms that you could ever have a divorce,” she explained.
She also shared that the couple continues to pursue their long-discussed IVF journey after spending nearly two years navigating the process.
Jelly Roll Publicly Shows Support For Bunnie XO
Later that same night, Jelly Roll addressed the situation during a concert in New York, telling fans that everything Bunnie discussed on her podcast was “the truth.” The singer also used the moment to express his appreciation for his wife.
“Bunnie, I love you, baby. Thank you for those 10 years. They were incredible,” he told the crowd. “Thank you for the next 10 years of friendship and 20 beyond that.”
Jelly Roll additionally shut down online speculation surrounding infidelity rumors. “Nobody cheated on nobody,” he said, though Bunnie XO did confirm the singer is already open to dating. “He is ready, raring and ready to go,” Bunnie noted while speaking at length about the divorce on her podcast. “He’s all hopped up on testosterone, let me tell you. He’s even started dating.”
In fact, Bunnie encouraged interested fans to shoot their shot, joking that the country star’s social media inbox is fair game. “His DMs are open,” she told listeners, adding that she’s happy to see him embrace whatever comes next. “I love that.”
“Daddy Roll is probably in his finest season, right? Like, I mean, the man looks great. He’s feeling himself. He looks so good. He is healthier than he’s ever been,” Bunnie added.
