f.BREAKING: Jelly Roll & Bunnie XO Open “Grace Haven” — A Safe Refuge for Women in Crisis and a Beacon of Healing for a Broken Nation.f

When the steel doors of Grace Haven swung open in downtown Nashville this morning, it wasn’t just another ribbon-cutting ceremony — it was a miracle in motion.
Country-rap star Jelly Roll and his wife, podcast host and philanthropist Bunnie XO, stood hand-in-hand as they unveiled what may become the most heartfelt project of their lives: a free, 24-hour safe-haven center for women escaping abuse, addiction, and homelessness.

“No one should ever feel alone in their darkest hour,” Bunnie said softly, her voice trembling as cameras flashed. “This is where healing begins.”
Beside her, Jelly Roll wiped away a tear — and the crowd did too.

From the Streets to Sanctuary

The story behind Grace Haven is one of redemption — not just for those it will serve, but for the couple themselves.
Before he became an award-winning artist, Jelly Roll (born Jason DeFord) spent years battling addiction and incarceration. He knows the streets. He knows the pain. And he knows that faith without action is just a word.

“I made a promise to God years ago,” he told reporters. “If He gave me another chance, I’d spend the rest of my life giving second chances to others.”

That promise has now taken physical form. Grace Haven — built inside a renovated community center near the Cumberland River — features 30 private recovery rooms, on-site counseling, a children’s playroom, kitchen facilities, and even a small recording studio, where residents can heal through music therapy.

The walls are painted in warm cream and gold, with murals of open hands and angel wings. Above the entrance reads one line, chosen by Bunnie herself:

“Grace doesn’t ask where you’ve been — only where you’re going.”

A Mission Born From Pain and Purpose

Bunnie XO, who has often spoken publicly about her own past trauma and battles for self-worth, has long dreamed of creating a space for women to rebuild from the ashes.
Her foundation quietly began funding shelters in 2022, but this — the first full-scale Grace Haven facility — is something deeper, something she calls “a promise kept.”

“Too many women are told they’re broken beyond repair,” she said. “But broken doesn’t mean finished. Every scar is proof that you’re still here, still fighting.”

“It’s Not Charity — It’s Family”

What makes Grace Haven different is its approach.
Rather than a traditional shelter model, it runs on a community-family system. Residents are paired with mentors — many of them former addicts or survivors themselves — who live alongside them during the first 90 days.

Jelly Roll explained,

“We’re not here to hand out pity. We’re here to build people back up. You come in broken, you leave believing again.”

The couple also worked with local churches, recovery experts, and Nashville Metro Police to ensure safety and support around the clock.
Funding came in part from Jelly Roll’s tour proceeds, plus a wave of small-donor crowdfunding after his emotional CMA Awards speech about redemption last year.

Nashville Reacts — and So Does the Nation

Within hours of the announcement, “#GraceHaven” trended across social media.
Fans shared personal stories, pastors offered prayers, and former inmates sent handwritten letters thanking Jelly Roll for proving that “a criminal past doesn’t erase a compassionate future.”

Country superstar Lainey Wilson wrote, “This is what country music’s heart looks like — grace in action.”
Meanwhile, faith leaders across Tennessee called Grace Haven “a holy act in a hurting world.”

Even city officials joined in. Nashville’s mayor declared October 30th “Grace Haven Day”, honoring the couple for “turning pain into purpose and fame into faith.”

The First Night at Grace Haven

As evening fell, the first group of women — some clutching backpacks, others carrying toddlers — stepped into Grace Haven’s softly lit lobby. Volunteers hugged them, counselors smiled, and a choir from a nearby church quietly sang “Amazing Grace.”

One young mother, who gave only her first name, Amber, whispered:

“I slept in my car last night. Tonight, I have a bed — and hope.”

That, Jelly Roll says, is what this place was built for.

“If even one life changes here, every tear we’ve cried was worth it.”

From the Stage to the Streets

Jelly Roll’s rise to stardom has always been about truth — raw, unfiltered, and painfully human. His songs about redemption and resilience have resonated with millions who know what it feels like to fall and get back up again.

But with Grace Haven, the message has become something more tangible: a movement.
He and Bunnie plan to open five more centers nationwide by 2030, focusing on cities hit hardest by addiction and domestic abuse. Talks are already underway in Dallas, Detroit, and Atlanta.

“I don’t want to die with a hit song,” he said quietly. “I want to die knowing I helped somebody live.”

“Where Healing Begins”

As the ribbon was cut and applause rose under the Nashville sun, Bunnie leaned her head on Jelly Roll’s shoulder. Behind them, a banner fluttered in the breeze: “Grace Haven — Where Healing Begins.”

For a moment, the noise of fame faded away, replaced by something holier — the sound of hope returning to hearts that had almost forgotten how to beat.

And as the crowd began to sing softly along with Jelly Roll’s hit “Save Me,” one truth became undeniable:
You don’t have to be perfect to change the world.
You just have to care enough to try.