Jelly Roll is moving forward after Bunnie XO split 'he will always love her'

Jelly Roll is moving forward after filing for divorce from Bunnie XO, though the country music star reportedly still has deep love and appreciation for his wife of several years.

The 41-year-old singer, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, shocked fans after filing for divorce from Bunnie XO, 46.

However, sources say he believes their marriage has reached its end despite the bond they continue to share.

A source told PEOPLE that Jelly Roll “will always love her” but feels he is now in a different stage of his life.

“The reality is that he will always love her, but that doesn’t mean that he wants to stay married,” the source said.

“He’s in a very different place than he was when they met. For the first time, he feels healthy, focused and in control of his future.”

Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO first met in 2015, and friends say she played an important role during some of the most difficult years of his life.

“She believed in him when not many people did and helped him through some very difficult years,” the insider shared.

The source added that Jelly Roll recognizes the impact Bunnie had on his journey and will always appreciate the support she gave him.

“He knows he wouldn’t be where he is today without her and he’s never going to forget that,” the source said.

The couple also supported each other through personal challenges, with the insider noting that Jelly Roll was equally present for Bunnie during the ups and downs of their relationship.

Meanwhile, Bunnie XO has addressed the separation publicly while choosing not to place blame on either side.

Speaking on her Dumb Blonde podcast, she said she did not feel it was her place to discuss details of Jelly Roll’s decisions and emphasized that relationships require effort.

“Marriages take a lot of work,” she said.

Bunnie also praised couples who have maintained long marriages, saying she admires those who have built lasting partnerships.

Despite their split, she described Jelly Roll as her “best friend” and said she remains committed to supporting him and their family, including his children Bailee and Noah.

“When I said those vows with him, I really meant them,” she shared.

Bunnie reflected on the life they created together, saying their relationship changed both of them.

“My husband and I built a f****** empire together,” she said.

She added that they helped each other grow and credited Jelly Roll with playing a major role in the person she has become.

“We saved each other and we put each other on the path that we did together,” Bunnie said. “He was the catalyst for me becoming the woman that I am today.”