Billy Ray Cyrus started dating Elizabeth Hurley as soon as his 3rd marriage to Firerose ended: Insiders
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: When Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley dropped an unexpected Easter bombshell, a cozy Instagram photo of the two canoodling by a rustic fence, the internet collectively gasped.
But according to sources close to the pair, this surprise "hard launch" was more than just an Easter Sunday shock, it began behind closed doors during one of Billy Ray’s darkest chapters, Daily Mail reported.
The romance started after Billy Ray Cyrus’ explosive divorce from Firerose
The 63-year-old singer had only just exited a turbulent third marriage to Australian singer Firerose.
The couple tied the knot in October 2023 after getting engaged in 2022, but by June 2024, news broke that the whirlwind romance had ended in flames.
The divorce, finalized in August 2024, was anything but peaceful. Billy Ray cited “irreconcilable differences” and “inappropriate marital conduct.”
In turn, Firerose accused him of “verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse,” and referenced his “persistent drug use accompanied with the consumption of marijuana.”
He, too, alleged she was after his money and subjected him to “physical, emotional, and verbal abuse.” Both parties denied each other's claims.
Speaking to Page Six, Firerose painted a harrowing picture of their short-lived union, claiming she felt like a “prisoner” and that Billy Ray “isolated” her with strict rules and persistent shouting.
Ultimately, she walked away with nothing. “She settled for nothing just to be done with him and get away from the situation,” a source told Daily Mail.
Elizabeth Hurley comforted Billy Ray Cyrus after his divorce
As the dust settled, one person reportedly stepped into the wreckage, Elizabeth Hurley.
A source revealed to The Sun, “There has always been a spark, but he reached out again last year when his short-lived third marriage ended. He has had a really hard time, but she has been there helping him turn things around.”
The two first met in 2022 on the set of 'Christmas in Paradise,' where they played romantic leads, Joanna Christmas and Jimmy Love.
While filming, Elizabeth gushed, saying, “I’ve long been a fan of [Billy Ray]... I used to watch [Hannah Montana] with my son. That was a big plus.”
Their chemistry was palpable onscreen, but offscreen, it may have sparked suspicions.
According to an insider, Billy Ray’s ex-wife Tish suspected something more was brewing, “Tish had her thoughts and suspicions at the time that he was cheating on her with Liz...Seeing that they are together now is a slap in the face.”
Billy Ray and Tish officially divorced in April 2022 after nearly 30 years of marriage.
They share five children, including pop star Miley Cyrus, whose relationship with her father has been publicly strained.
Elizabeth Hurley inspires Billy Ray Cyrus to rebuild family ties
The new romance, insiders say, isn’t just about personal healing, it’s about family restoration.
“Liz has been encouraging [Billy Ray] to mend his fractured relationship with his daughter Miley, as well as his other children. Her closeness with Damian is inspiring,” a source said.
Indeed, Hurley's own relationship with her son Damian Hurley, 23, whom he shares Damian with the late Steve Bing, is famously tight-knit.
The two often describe themselves as being more like “siblings” than parent and child, something that reportedly resonated with Billy Ray.
While Hurley's last long-term relationship ended in 2013 with the late Shane Warne, her romantic past includes a 13-year relationship with Hugh Grant and a marriage to Indian businessman Arun Nayar.
Still, as the Sun insider revealed, not everyone in Hurley's camp is convinced as “Her friends are cautious because of what’s been said in the past about him. She insists he has turned a corner and is a changed man.”
