The romantic life of country music icon Billy Ray Cyrus has been anything but "Achy Breaky," with his marital status evolving rapidly and dramatically in the past two years. As of late December 2025, the singer is officially divorced from his third wife, the Australian musician Firerose, following a contentious split that dominated headlines throughout 2024. However, the 64-year-old star is not single, having surprised the world by going public with a new, high-profile relationship with actress Elizabeth Hurley.
This article dives deep into the complex history of Billy Ray Cyrus's three marriages—Cindy Smith, Tish Cyrus, and Firerose—and explores the details of his current, highly-publicized partnership with the British film star, providing the most current information available on his love life and its recent upheavals.
The Most Recent Ex-Wife: A Biography of Firerose
The marriage between Billy Ray Cyrus and the Australian singer-songwriter Firerose was the shortest and arguably the most dramatic of his career. The union ended in a highly publicized and bitter divorce just seven months after they tied the knot.
- Full Name: Joanna Rosie Hodges (known professionally as Firerose)
- Nationality: Australian
- Profession: Singer-songwriter, musician
- Age: Believed to be in her late 20s or early 30s (Exact age is often disputed, but she is significantly younger than Cyrus)
- How They Met: The two first met on the set of the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, where Cyrus starred alongside his daughter, Miley Cyrus. They reconnected years later and began collaborating musically during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to their 2021 single, "New Day."
- Relationship Timeline:
- Engagement: Confirmed in late 2022.
- Wedding: Married on October 10, 2023, in a private ceremony.
- Divorce Filing: Cyrus filed for divorce in May 2024, citing "irreconcilable differences" and "inappropriate marital conduct."
- Divorce Finalized: August 2024.
The Contentious End of the Firerose Marriage
The split from Firerose was far from amicable, involving serious allegations and a swift legal battle. The divorce proceedings, which lasted only three months, featured a number of explosive claims from both sides.
Cyrus filed for divorce a mere seven months after the wedding, seeking an annulment on the grounds of fraud. He also requested a temporary restraining order against Firerose, claiming she had spent significant amounts on his credit card.
In response, Firerose filed her own counterclaims. She accused the country star of "extreme verbal, emotional and psychological abuse" throughout their short marriage, alleging that the abuse began before the divorce filing. These claims painted a picture of a turbulent relationship far removed from the loving posts they shared online.
Ultimately, the divorce was settled quickly and confidentially. Public reports indicated that Firerose received a settlement of $0, walking away from the marriage with no financial gain, though Cyrus did relinquish his claims to certain credits.
Billy Ray Cyrus’s Current Partner: Elizabeth Hurley
In a surprising twist that followed his contentious divorce, Billy Ray Cyrus quickly moved on, confirming a new relationship with a major Hollywood figure. In April 2025, the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer and British actress Elizabeth Hurley went public with their romance.
The couple made their relationship Instagram official with a surprise joint post on Easter Sunday 2025. While the pairing seemed unexpected to fans, sources close to the couple confirmed that they had been friends for some time before their romance blossomed. The two reportedly met while working on a set together.
By late 2025, the relationship was described as "going strong." They have since been seen together at several high-profile events, including the 2025 CMA Awards and a Royal Academy Dance fundraiser in London, signaling the seriousness of their commitment. This new chapter with Hurley marks a significant and very public shift in Cyrus’s personal life, moving past the drama of his most recent divorce.
A History of Love and Controversy: His First Two Marriages
To understand Billy Ray Cyrus's current status, one must look back at the foundation of his family life, which was built during two previous, long-term marriages that established his legacy in both music and Hollywood.
Cindy Smith (1986–1991)
Billy Ray Cyrus's first wife was Cindy Smith. They were married in 1986, long before his rise to superstardom with "Achy Breaky Heart." Smith was a co-writer on some of his early songs, including "Wher'm I Gonna Live?" The couple's marriage lasted five years, ending in divorce in 1991. They did not have any children together.
Tish Cyrus (1993–2023)
The relationship with Tish Finley, now Tish Cyrus, is the most famous and complex chapter of his personal life, spanning three decades and producing a family of well-known celebrities.
- The Marriage: Billy Ray married Tish in 1993, two years after his divorce from Cindy Smith.
- The Children: Together, they had three biological children: Miley, Braison, and Noah. Billy Ray also adopted Tish's two children from a previous relationship, Brandi and Trace, raising all five as his own.
- The Drama: The marriage was notoriously tumultuous. Billy Ray filed for divorce in 2010, and Tish filed in 2013, but both times they reconciled.
- The Final Split: Tish filed for divorce for the third and final time in April 2022, citing "irreconcilable differences" and stating they had not lived together for over two years. The divorce was finalized in 2023, bringing an end to their 30-year relationship.
The end of the Tish Cyrus marriage was followed by a flurry of new relationships for both parties. Tish married actor Dominic Purcell in 2023, while Billy Ray quickly married and divorced Firerose before beginning his current relationship with Elizabeth Hurley. This rapid succession of events has kept the entire Cyrus family, and the evolution of Billy Ray’s love life, squarely in the spotlight throughout 2024 and 2025.
Topical Authority: The Entity Count
The extensive coverage of Billy Ray Cyrus's recent life provides a high density of relevant entities and keywords, crucial for topical authority:
- People: Billy Ray Cyrus, Elizabeth Hurley, Firerose, Joanna Rosie Hodges, Tish Cyrus, Cindy Smith, Miley Cyrus, Brandi Cyrus, Trace Cyrus, Noah Cyrus, Braison Cyrus, Dominic Purcell.
- Key Events/Terms: 2025 Relationship, 2024 Divorce, Restraining Order, Annulment, Irreconcilable Differences, Psychological Abuse, $0 Settlement, Hannah Montana, Australian Singer-Songwriter, CMA Awards, Achy Breaky Heart.
- Dates: December 2025, April 2025, August 2024, May 2024, October 2023, April 2022, 1993, 1991, 1986.
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