Jelly Roll is showing off a fresh new face.
The 40-year-old country star revealed a major change this week after shaving off his beard for the first time in a decade. In an Instagram video posted Thursday, Nov. 20, Jelly Roll explained that he originally kept the beard because of his weight — but with his recent transformation, he decided it was time for something new. He added with a laugh that going beardless makes him feel like a “Ninja Turtle.”
His wife, Bunnie Xo, teased the makeover earlier this month. On Nov. 13, she shared her own Instagram post confirming that he’d shaved for a recent photo shoot. Pointing out his slimmer face, she joked that now everyone can finally see his jawline. She said he’d share the final look “when he’s ready,” while filming her reactions as he trimmed his facial hair down into different styles — a goatee, a mustache — before going fully clean-shaven. She also admitted she’d never seen him without a beard before.
The new look comes as Jelly Roll continues a life-changing weight-loss journey. Over the last few years, he has dropped nearly 200 pounds from his previous weight of about 550. He has credited the progress to consistent exercise and healthier eating habits.
He has also been open about choosing not to use Ozempic or other GLP-1 medications that some celebrities have turned to for weight loss. Jelly Roll said he was worried about possible side effects, especially acid reflux, and wanted to be clear that his transformation has been natural. Still, he emphasized that others should do what works for them, adding that his decision wasn’t about proving anything — he was simply scared of the risks for his own body.
