Jelly Roll adding another impressive credit to his growing resume. The country music superstar has been chosen as one of several celebrity guest hosts to take over “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” while Jimmy Kimmel takes a two-month summer break. Kimmel made the announcement during Thursday night’s show and revealed a lineup that includes Tiffany Haddish, Colman Domingo, Anthony Andersenand more. Jelly Roll is no stranger to the late-night spotlight, having previously hosted two episodes of ABC’s 2025 show.
Another notable addition to Kimmel’s guest host roster is Rosie O’Donnellwho will make her debut behind “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” desk. Kimmel joked that he had invited one of them President Donald Trumps “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 walking away from the show. “I’m taking the next two months off, this time voluntarily,” the comedian said, a playful reference to the controversy surrounding his show at the end of 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 desk late in the evening after Labor Day.
Jelly Roll’s new TV role comes during a busy personal chapter
The hosting announcement came during a highly publicized week for Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunny XO. That same night, Kimmel announced his guest host lineup, Bunnie published an honest podcast episode discussing major changes in their relationship.
“We stopped communicating together, um, for the last year and a half,” Bunnie said. “And I think it’s safe for me to say that I’ve 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 after an argument on Mother’s Day. While stressing that infidelity played no role in their breakup, she admitted that frustration led her to ask Jelly Roll to file for divorce.
“I was so tired,” she recalled, noting that she never expected him to actually follow through with the paperwork. “Was I blindsided? Was this divorce mutual? No. It wasn’t mutual. Even though I asked him to file the divorce papers, I spoke 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 each other. “My husband and I are ending this marriage on the best possible terms that you could ever get a divorce,” she explained.
She also shared that the couple is continuing to pursue their long-discussed IVF journey after spending nearly two years navigating the process.
Jelly Roll shows public support for Bunnie XO
Later that 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. Thanks for the 10 years. They were incredible,” he told the audience. “Thank you for the next 10 years of friendship and 20 beyond.”
Jelly Roll also shut down online speculation surrounding infidelity rumours. “No one cheated on no one,” he said, although Bunnie XO confirmed that the singer is already open to dating. “He’s ready, terrified and ready to go,” Bunnie noted while talking at length about the divorce on her podcast. “He’s high on testosterone, let me tell you. He’s even started dating.”
In fact, Bunnie encouraged interested fans to call their shots, 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 what’s next. “I love it.”
“Daddy Roll is probably in his prime, right? Like, I mean, the man looks good. He’s feeling himself. He looks so good. He’s healthier than he’s ever been,” Bunnie added.
