Jelly Roll Tapped for Jimmy Kimmel Live Hosting Duties
Country music artist Jelly Roll is set to step into a new role as a guest host for Jimmy Kimmel Live!. This career move comes as the star prepares to take a two-month hiatus from his late-night program.
Celebrity Lineup to Take the Reins
Jimmy Kimmel announced on Thursday that a diverse group of celebrities will be filling in for him during his upcoming break. Among those scheduled to guest host are Rosie O’Donnell, Colman Domingo, Anthony Anderson, Tiffany Haddish, and Ike Barinholtz.
Kimmel made light of his absence, joking, “I will be taking the next two months off, this time voluntarily.” He referenced a past instance where his show was briefly suspended over remarks he made concerning the death of Charlie Kirk, which had drawn the attention of the Trump administration’s FCC chairman.
“I asked one of our commander-in-chief’s all-time favorites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming,” Kimmel quipped to the studio audience.
Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO Divorce Developments
The news of Jelly Roll’s guest hosting gig surfaces just days after reports emerged that he had filed for divorce from his wife, Bunnie XO, after a decade of marriage. On the same evening Kimmel announced his hiatus, Bunnie XO released a detailed podcast addressing their divorce.
Jelly Roll publicly addressed his fans during a concert in upstate New York, confirming that “every word” his wife had shared on her podcast was “the truth.” He expressed his enduring “love” for Bunnie XO, calling her “my best friend forever.”
Ongoing IVF Journey
Bunnie XO revealed on her podcast that she and Jelly Roll are continuing their IVF process to have a child together, despite their separation. She described the two-year fertility treatment as having taken a significant toll on her, leaving her feeling depleted.
She characterized their relationship dynamic as one where she was the more proactive partner, often the “chaser,” while he was the “runner.” Bunnie XO also candidly discussed her complex relationship with fame, contrasting it with her husband’s more public persona, which she likened to that of a politician.
Both Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO have vocally denied rumors of infidelity. Bunnie XO specifically addressed speculation linking her to Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger. Onstage, Jelly Roll echoed these denials, assuring the audience, “Nobody cheated on nobody.” He added, “Bunnie, I love you, baby. Thank you for those 10 years. They were incredible. Thank you for the next 10 years of friendship and 20 beyond that.”
Kimmel’s History with Guest Hosts and Past Controversies
This will not be Jelly Roll’s first time hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!; he previously guest-hosted for two episodes in July 2025. Anthony Anderson holds the record for the most guest-hosting appearances, with 24 episodes.
Rosie O’Donnell’s upcoming turn as host marks a significant moment, especially given her long-standing public feud with Donald Trump. O’Donnell, who has reportedly relocated to Ireland, has been involved in a decades-long dispute with the former president, stemming from exchanges on shows like The View and continuing through Trump’s presidential campaigns.
Kimmel himself has had a contentious relationship with the Trump administration, which led to a temporary suspension of his show last fall. The hiatus followed his comments regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while on the campus of Utah Valley University.
Kimmel’s show is scheduled to return after Labor Day. Tiffany Haddish’s guest hosting dates are set for the week of July 6.
