The Three Wives Of Billy Ray Cyrus: Inside The Tumultuous Marriages And The Shocking 2024 Divorce

The love life of country music icon Billy Ray Cyrus has been as dramatic as a soap opera, culminating in a highly publicized and contentious divorce in the late summer of 2024. As of today, December 10, 2025, the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer is officially single, having concluded his third marriage to Australian singer-songwriter Firerose after a mere seven months. This latest split adds another complex chapter to the star's personal history, which includes a decades-long marriage to Tish Cyrus and a lesser-known first union.

The intense public scrutiny surrounding the Cyrus family, particularly following the simultaneous divorces of Billy Ray and his ex-wife Tish, has kept the spotlight firmly on his romantic choices. This deep dive explores the three significant women who have held the title of Billy Ray Cyrus’s wife, detailing the timeline, the children, and the dramatic conclusions of each relationship.

Billy Ray Cyrus: A Biographical Snapshot

• Full Name: William Ray Cyrus
• Born: August 25, 1961
• Birthplace: Flatwoods, Kentucky, U.S.
• Occupation: Singer-songwriter, Actor
• Genres: Country, Country Pop, Bluegrass
• Debut Album: Some Gave All (1992)
• Signature Song: "Achy Breaky Heart" (1992)
• Acting Role: Robby Ray Stewart on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana (2006–2011)
• Wives: Cindy Smith (1986–1991), Tish Finley (1993–2023), Firerose (2023–2024)
• Children: Christopher Cody, Miley Cyrus, Braison Cyrus, Noah Cyrus, Trace Cyrus (adopted), Brandi Cyrus (adopted)

Wife #1: Cindy Smith (1986–1991)

Billy Ray Cyrus's first marriage was to songwriter Cindy Smith. This union predates his massive commercial success with "Achy Breaky Heart," offering a glimpse into his early career and life before fame.

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The Early Songwriting Partnership

Cindy Smith and Billy Ray Cyrus were married in 1986. Their relationship was deeply rooted in music; Smith herself was a songwriter. They even collaborated artistically, co-writing the track "Wher'm I Gonna Live?" (sometimes cited as "Where Am I Gonna Live?") which appeared on his 1992 debut album, Some Gave All.

A Quiet Conclusion

The marriage lasted approximately four years, ending in divorce in 1991, just before Cyrus achieved global stardom. Their split was quiet and amicable compared to his later divorces, and the couple did not have any children together. The end of this relationship marked the close of one chapter just as his professional life was about to explode.

Wife #2: Tish Finley (1993–2023)

The marriage to Leticia "Tish" Finley was the most significant and longest-lasting of Billy Ray’s life, spanning nearly three decades and producing a family that became a pop culture phenomenon.

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A Long and Complex History

Billy Ray and Tish married in 1993, shortly after his divorce from Cindy Smith and while Tish was pregnant with their son, Braison Cyrus. The couple’s relationship was famously tumultuous, characterized by multiple filings for divorce (in 2010 and 2013) before their final, official separation.

The Cyrus Family Dynasty

Together, they raised five children, three biological and two adopted from Tish's previous relationship, forming the iconic Cyrus family:

• Brandi Cyrus (Born 1987, Tish’s daughter, adopted by Billy Ray)
• Trace Cyrus (Born 1989, Tish’s son, adopted by Billy Ray)
• Miley Cyrus (Born 1992, Biological daughter)
• Braison Cyrus (Born 1994, Biological son)
• Noah Cyrus (Born 2000, Biological daughter)

Their family life, particularly the rise of Miley Cyrus as a global superstar in *Hannah Montana* (where Billy Ray also starred), cemented their status in the celebrity world.

The Final Split

After 28 years of marriage, Tish Cyrus filed for divorce for the third and final time in April 2022, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in 2023, paving the way for both Tish and Billy Ray to pursue new relationships, which they both did quickly.

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Wife #3: Firerose (2023–2024) — The Shortest, Most Dramatic Chapter

Billy Ray Cyrus’s third and most recent marriage to the much younger Australian singer-songwriter Firerose (whose birth name is reportedly Joanna Rosie Hodges) was his shortest, lasting less than eight months, and arguably his most dramatic.

How They Met and the Whirlwind Romance

The couple’s connection dates back over a decade. They first met around 2007 or 2009 on the set of *Hannah Montana* when Firerose was a young aspiring musician. They reconnected during the COVID-19 pandemic, forming a musical partnership and, soon after, a romantic one. They became engaged in 2022, shortly after his final split from Tish, and married in a small ceremony on October 10, 2023.

The Bitter 2024 Divorce and Annulment Filing

The marriage quickly soured. In May 2024, Billy Ray Cyrus filed for divorce from Firerose, citing irreconcilable differences and, controversially, seeking an annulment based on claims of "inappropriate marital conduct." The filing and subsequent legal battle became highly public and acrimonious.

Allegations and the $0 Settlement

The divorce was finalized in August 2024, with details of the settlement making headlines. Firerose reportedly agreed to leave the marriage with $0 in spousal support or marital assets, a detail that was widely reported. Furthermore, the split was marked by significant tension, with Firerose implying on social media that she had survived "narcissistic abuse." Billy Ray Cyrus, for his part, released a statement expressing that he was "very relieved" to put the relationship behind him.

The Current Status of Billy Ray Cyrus

As of late 2024, Billy Ray Cyrus is a single man following the finalization of his divorce from Firerose. His romantic history is a complicated tapestry of three distinct relationships: the early, collaborative marriage to Cindy Smith, the long, foundational, and dramatic union with Tish Cyrus that created the famous Cyrus family, and the brief, tumultuous, and highly public split from Firerose. While his professional life continues to be focused on his music career, his personal journey remains a constant source of public fascination, especially regarding his relationship with his famous children, including Miley Cyrus and Noah Cyrus, whose own personal lives are often in the spotlight.

The quick end to his third marriage has highlighted the ongoing complexity in the Cyrus family dynamics, proving that even a country superstar's love life can be as dramatic as the songs he writes. The entities involved—from the legal terms like "annulment" and "settlement" to the personal allegations like "narcissistic abuse"—ensure this chapter will be remembered as one of the most volatile periods in his decades-long career.