Bunnie XO Explains Why She ‘Almost Fainted’ Meeting Billy Bob Thornton at the CMT Awards
Jelly Roll had a big night on the CMT Awards stage on Sunday (April 7), but behind the scenes, Bunnie XO — who is the country star’s wife — got her moment as well. Backstage at the show – where the “Son of a Sinner” singer scored three major wins – the model brushed shoulders with actor-singer Billy Bob Thornton, leaving her totally in awe.
In a clip Bunnie posted to TikTok one day after the ceremony, the camera follows her as she walks up to the actor and gives him a big hug. “Hi, I’m Jelly’s wife,” she introduces herself, to which Thornton says, “I know. How are you, honey?”
“Aw, it’s so nice to meet you,” the Goliath star adds.
“I almost fainted meeting Billy Bob Thornton because he knew who I was,” Bunnie wrote of the encounter, noting in her caption, “Ok this made me starstruck.”
That night, Jelly Roll took home video of the year, male video of the year and CMT performance of the year, all for his song “Need a Favor” — after which he closed out the show with a performance of “Halfway to Hell.” Later, Bunnie celebrated her husband’s achievements with an emotional post on Instagram, calling him “the maestro of misfits.”
“You are not an overnight success story, this has been 20 years in the making,” she added at the time. “Papabear your voice is an instrument of healing & the world is your choir. I LOVE YOU IN THIS LIFETIME & EVERY OTHER ONE IM LUCKY TO BE BY YOUR SIDE IN.”
As the Dumb Blonde Podcast host revealed in a TikTok a couple days before the CMTs, it’s a miracle she and Jelly even made it to the show at all. After their plane took flight en route to Austin, Texas, it suddenly turned around and made an emergency landing due to a malfunction, according to Bunnie.
“CMT i swear we’re coming 😭,” she captioned the clip.
Watch Bunnie XO meet Billy Bob Thornton below.
Hannah Dailey
Billboard
