In a bold move to reclaim his peace of mind, Jelly Roll has decided to part ways with his cell phone—quite literally. During the December 16 episode of his wife Bunnie Xo’s podcast Dumb Blonde, the “Son of a Sinner” singer revealed that he felt overwhelmed by the constant barrage of messages and notifications, leading him to toss his phone into the Cumberland River.
“This isn’t maybe the healthiest way to do it, but I can confidently tell people I’m not gonna have a phone all of 2025,” Jelly Roll, 40, shared with his wife of eight years. He had previously hinted at this decision throughout the year, stating that if his Beautifully Broken Tour went as planned, he would throw his phone off the Shelby Street Bridge.
The moment finally came when Jelly Roll instructed his driver to take him to the river. “I was getting to a point that I was getting hundreds and hundreds of text messages a day. And I just was overwhelmed,” he explained. The pressure of responding to so many messages left him feeling guilty for those he missed. “This phone was causing me a lot of guilt,” he admitted.
Jelly Roll’s struggles with technology are not new; Bunnie noted that her husband has a history of discarding phones. “Like, my husband has been throwing phones away,” she said, laughing about how people often reach out to her when they can’t get in touch with him. “I’ve had the same number for almost a decade. My husband has had about 17,” she quipped.
As he prepares for a phone-free year, Jelly Roll plans to revert to using a flip phone in 2025. “It’s healthy for me,” he stated, explaining how he often used his smartphone as a means of escape from reality. He recognized that avoiding text messages did not make him a better person; rather, it hindered his ability to connect with those who matter most in his life.
“I wanna be a better husband. I wanna be a better father. I wanna be a better human. I wanna be a better artist,” he declared. This realization led him to conclude that his phone was not helping him achieve any of those goals.
Jelly Roll’s candid discussion about mental health and technology resonates with many who struggle with similar issues in our hyper-connected world. The singer has consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining relationships and being present for his family. In previous interviews, he discussed a rule he and Bunnie established early in their marriage: they aim to spend quality time together every fourteen days. This commitment extends to their 16-year-old daughter Bailee as well, as they realized they were going months without seeing her.
Reflecting on his recent experiences, Jelly Roll admitted that the past couple of years have been overwhelming yet transformative. After achieving superstardom with three #1 hits and winning the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year, he recognized the need for balance in his life.
His decision to throw his phone into the river was not merely an impulsive act but rather a symbolic gesture signifying his desire to disconnect from stressors and focus on what truly matters—his family and personal growth.
As Jelly Roll embarks on this new chapter without a smartphone, fans can expect more heartfelt music that reflects his journey toward self-discovery and authenticity. With plans for new projects on the horizon, including two Grammy nominations and an extensive tour schedule, it’s clear that this artist is ready to embrace whatever comes next—without the distraction of technology weighing him down.
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