A future journalist or podcaster in the making. Bunnie Xo is pulling back the curtain on motherhood, podcasting, and more in a recent interview with Today. Bunnie Xo might be the wife of the CMA Award-winning artist Jelly Roll, but don’t let that fool you; she’s got a handful of accolades and accomplishments to her name. Bunnie Xo, whose real name is Alisa DeFord, is gearing up to release her first novel, “Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic,” coming in February 2026, and sat down with the publication to talk about what readers can expect and to share a little bit about what’s going on in her life. When Bunnie is not on the road supporting her husband, she’s at home raising her stepchildren. “Having a teenager is not for the weak. I tell everybody this: 13 is when the dark goes over their eyes, and you’re just like, ‘Hello? Where are you?’” She jokes with the interviewer: “13 to 17, that is like a nightmare and then, I swear to God, right at 17 and a half, they become your best friend. Bailee is my best friend. I love her to death.” Bunnie Xo shares a very special relationship with Bailee Ann, serving as her mother figure even though she’s not biologically her mother. Bailee Ann has opened up in the past that her biological mom has never been a true mother, often putting her in an unsafe situation, and convinced Bailee to try drugs one time. Bailee candidly shared this on Bunnie’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her mother was manipulative in getting her to try these addictive substances, and that she doesn’t have much recollection of the next couple of months, because she was “so f***** up all of the time.” “Whether it was weed, or I was drinking, or I was vaping or snorting Valiums or Xanax or whatever I was doing, I was never sober for a good 8-month period.” Horrible… but Bailee hit the lottery with getting a fiercely loyal mother figure like Bunnie in her life. On Bunnie’s TikTok recently, she set the record straight when a troll commented that Bailee was only her “stepdaughter,” while also taking aim at critics who make comments that she’s not Bailee’s “real mom.” “She might be my bonus baby, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I’m her mom too. So many people try to come at me & say things like this and ‘you’re not her mom.’ I’ve sat quietly for almost 8 years protecting her “mom” & never speaking up about the human she is. You’re right – I’m NOT her mom & would never want to be. Her mom isn’t a mom. I fiercely protect this little girl, I teach her how to be a woman, I have always picked up the pieces of her broken heart alongside her dad, every time her real mom shatters her heart. I’m the one who she gets mad at because I tell her no & actually parent her. There is so much you don’t know about this relationship because I don’t “brag” about all the things I’ve done for her. Bailee calls me mom by choice. I never asked her to call me that. But through this journey called life, no matter what – that’s my kid. Our kid. And nothing any of you say will ever change that.” Amen. @ohheyitsbunnie #baileeandbunnie ♬ Blurry – Puddle Of Mudd Bunnie Xo is an incredible mother, and she’s raising a strong, intelligent woman. While Bunnie Xo serves as a motherly figure for Bailee, helping her heal from past trauma, there are times when Bailee also helps Bunnie grow as an individual. In the interview, Bunnie Xo shared that Bailee Ann has helped her prepare questions for some of her most prominent podcast guests- like the Queen of Country Music, Dolly Parton. “Everything she’s taught me, I apply to my everyday life and my interviews — having patience and if people say off-the-wall things, you’re not reactive. I did an interview recently where I said something that kind of pissed off the person, but I was able to talk them back down … gentle parenting skills!” It’s really sweet to know that Bunnie Xo is giving Bailee the nurturing childhood that she was deprived of as a child. And Bailee Ann clearly has a strong future in this field, helping her mother prepare for some of her biggest interviews while still in high school. Bunnie Xo’s podcast is a top-ranking show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and she’s still having to pinch herself that people tune in to listen to what she has to say. “I’m so amazed that people even want to hear anything I have to say. If it gets me in trouble, that’s OK. Being authentic is the best thing that you can possibly do. Maybe that’s what draws people in.” I know that whenever I listen to a Dumb Blonde episode now, I’ll be trying to see what questions Bailee Ann influenced. This young woman has a bright future. Check out the latest episode with Gavin Adcock while you’re here. The post Bunnie Xo Praises Her Stepdaughter, Bailee Ann, For Helping Her Prepare For Podcast Interviews first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Looking for the perfect country music album to ring in the Fall season? Well then, you’ve come to the right place. We all know that music has the power to transport you to a time or place. There’s nothing like cueing up a song that takes you back to a simpler time, or reminds you of that specific time the radio was turned on while your grandma was cooking up a family recipe (sorry for using such a specific example). But music can also help support and sustain a current moment, and maybe even create a core memory to look back on later in life. I’ve always thought it was strange that there’s Christmas music made specifically to be played during the holiday season, but the rest of the year is on it’s own. It’d be nice if there was a manicured selection of music for every season, you know? That’s what country music fans are currently working on over at the r/country page of Reddit. The online forum known as Reddit used to have the slogan of “The Front Page of the Internet.” Though it’s not known as that anymore, it’s still true in the sense that a lot of wild and wacky viral stories first appear there, before they wind up on Daily Mail or New York Post. But they probably separated themselves from that tag line because the  site also acts as a community hub and forum for just about anything topic and interest you could think of (and some you don’t want to think of). And some country music-loving Redditors are currently discussing which country music albums out there evoke the feeling of the fall season. It’s a real who’s who type of list, and every suggestion has been as stellar as the next. There’s a good mixture of newer and older artists, and if you were to give any of these projects a listen… they’d certainly get you in the mood for the beautiful, leaves-changing, pumpkin-carving portion of the year. Here are some of the highlights from the Reddit forum exploring the albums that feel the most like fall: “‘Live on Red Barn Radio I & II’ by Tyler Childers always gives me fall vibes.” “George Strait – ‘Chill of an Early Fall.'” “Randy Rogers Band self titled album.” “‘Rage and Tragedy’ by The Lost Dog Street Band.” “‘How the Mighty Fall’ by Charles Wesley Godwin.” “‘Songs to Keep You Warm’ by Flatland Cavalry.” “‘Old No. 1’ by Guy Clark.” “Turnpike Troubadours’ self titled album.” “‘Old Country Town’ by the Lonesome River Band.” “Anything Townes Van Zandt.” “‘The Road Not Taken’ by Shenandoah.” “‘Family Ties’ by Charles Wesley Godwin.” “Willie Nelson’s ‘Stardust.'” Heck of a list, eh? And the suggestions continue to roll in, so if you are planning on combining all of these albums and creating a stellar, Autumn-themed playlist, make sure to check back in with the r/country page of Reddit. In my opinion, Fall is the most wonderful time of the year (sorry Christmas), so make sure to soak it up and listen to some good country music while you’re at it.The post What Country Music Albums Sound & Feel Like Fall? The Fans Sound Off first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

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There is a good reason why baby carrots tend to be slimier than their full-sized counterparts—and it has to do with the white stuff you sometimes see on the outside of them.