Billy Ray Cyrus seeks divorce from Firerose over inappropriate marital conduct after 7 months of marriage
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Country music star Billy Ray Cyrus has filed for divorce from his wife, Firerose, just seven months after their October 2023 wedding.
Legal documents obtained by PEOPLE indicate that Cyrus, 62, cited irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct as the reasons for the split. He is also seeking an annulment on the grounds of fraud.
Billy Ray Cyrus files for divorce from Firerose after seven months of marriage
The divorce was filed in Nashville on May 22, and neither Cyrus nor Firerose, whose real name is Johanna Rose Hodges, follow each other on Instagram. Representatives for both parties have not commented on the matter. TMZ was the first to report the news.
The two musicians had a longstanding friendship that evolved into a songwriting partnership during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their relationship turned romantic in 2022, leading to their engagement and subsequent marriage in October 2023. The couple marked their wedding day with a heartfelt Instagram post, calling it a "perfect, ethereal celebration of love."
"10/10/23 will always be the beautiful, joyous day that our two souls united as one in holy matrimony," they wrote in a joint Instagram post at the time. "It was the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined."
Cyrus and Firerose collaborated on several songs, including 'New Day,' 'Time,' 'Plans,' and 'After the Storm.' They discussed the significance of their music in a PEOPLE interview, with Cyrus describing "After the Storm" as a powerful and timely piece.
Firerose said at the time, "Only by the grace of God did I survive my darkest nights. There is so much truth in these lyrics and it’s my purpose to help others find strength in their toughest hours."
In August 2023, the couple performed 'Plans' on 'Good Morning America' and spoke fondly of their relationship. Cyrus likened their partnership to "peanut butter and jelly," while Firerose expressed her gratitude for living her dreams with her best friend.
In February, Cyrus celebrated Firerose's birthday on Instagram, calling her the "beautiful love of my life" and sharing a video of them. Firerose marked its six-month anniversary in April with nostalgic wedding photos and a message of enduring love and friendship.
Cyrus was previously married to Tish Cyrus for 28 years, with whom he shares five children: Miley, Noah, Brandi, Trace, and Braison. He also has a son, Christopher Cody, from a prior relationship with Kristen Luckey.
Miley Cyrus allegedly urged siblings to 'pick a side' in feud with dad over new wife
Miley Cyrus reportedly urged her siblings to choose sides amid her ongoing feud with their father, Billy Ray Cyrus, over his new wife, Australian singer Firerose. Sources indicated that Miley's disapproval had intensified, casting a shadow over the holiday season.
According to insiders, the 62-year-old country singer had hoped that his daughter, 31, would come to accept Firerose, 34, after their marriage. However, this reconciliation did not materialize. "Billy Ray was hoping things would get better now that they're married, but if anything, Miley's even more upset," a source revealed to the National Enquirer.
The discord between Miley, her father, and Firerose had reportedly escalated to the point where Miley drew a line in the sand, instructing her five siblings to pick a side. "Noah and Branson are still very close to Billy Ray and have accepted Firerose," the insider noted, predicting that if forced to choose, "they'll take his side."
Meanwhile, Miley had been leaning more on her mother, Tish, who also remarried after her divorce from Billy Ray. "Miley always sided with her mom in the divorce. Whenever Miley gets anxious, Tish is there to comfort her and talk it through," the source said.
Tish and Billy Ray ended their three-decade-long marriage in 2022. Tish then began dating 'Prison Break' star Dominic Purcell, 53, shortly after. Miley stood by her mother as the maid of honor at Tish and Purcell's wedding in August 2023, just over a year after Tish's split from Billy Ray.
