Billy Ray Cyrus Files for Divorce From Firerose Over Alleged "Inappropriate Marital Conduct"

Seven months after Billy Ray Cyrus married Firerose, the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer has officially filed for divorce from the Australian artist.

By Jess Cohen Jun 11, 2024 6:36 PMTags
Watch: Billy Ray Cyrus Files for Divorce from Firerose After Just 7 Months of Marriage

Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose are mending achy breaky hearts.

That's because the "Old Town Road" singer filed for divorce from his wife in late May after seven months of marriage, E! News can confirm.

In documents obtained by E! News June 11, the 62-year-old cited "irreconcilable differences" and "inappropriate marital conduct" as the reason for their split and requested an annulment on the grounds that "consent to marriage was obtained by fraud." Their date of separation is listed as May 22.

E! News has reached out to Billy Ray's reps for comment and has not heard back.

While Miley Cyrus' dad and the Australian songwriter have yet to publicly address their breakup, they haven't posted each other on Instagram since April. That month, Firerose celebrated their relationship milestone.

"6 months ago I married this man," Firerose—real name Johanna Rose Hodgescaptioned photos from their wedding ceremony. "Life isn't always easy… but it sure helps when your husband's also your best friend. Thank you Lord!"

Billy Ray—who shares Miley, 31, as well as kids Brandi Cyrus, 37, Trace Cyrus, 35, Braison Cyrus, 30, and Noah Cyrus, 24, with ex Tish Cyrusannounced his engagement to Firerose in November 2022. Nearly a year later, they officially said "I do."

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"10/10/23 will always be the beautiful, joyous day that our two souls united as one in holy matrimony," the duo, who first met on the set of Hannah Montana, wrote on Instagram in October. "It was the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined."

Instagram

"For both of us to hear the preacher say, 'Billy Ray and Firerose Cyrus… I now pronounce you husband and wife' that was the sacred moment our new forever began," their caption continued. "Long Live Love!"

Instagram/Billy Ray Cyrus

And although this chapter of her life is coming to a close, Firerose is celebrating a new one.

"8 years sober today by the grace of God!" the 36-year-old wrote on Instagram May 31. "8 years ago God performed a miracle in my life. One day at a time since then I've given my will & my life over to Him. He's been loving & faithful in all promises & never left my side. It's only by God's love & His wonderful grace that I get to remain sober & share that hope with others still suffering in addiction. I couldn't be more incredibly grateful for that gift."

"If you're struggling right now, just know there is NOTHING He can't do!!" the "After the Storm" singer continued. "No matter how broken you feel… by faith you can & will be restored."

Keep reading to revisit Billy Ray and Firerose's relationship timeline...

2010

Billy Ray Cyrus' first encounter with Firerose came when he was taking a break with his dog on the set of Hannah Montana, the hit Disney Channel series he starred on with his daughter Miley Cyrus from 2006 until 2011.

"On that given day, Firerose came out of the front door," the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer told People. "There was almost a moment of, I don't know, recognition. I was like, 'This girl's a star.'"

While Cyrus had no idea who Firerose, then 22, was at the time, his future fiancé definitely knew who he was. "Growing up in Australia, my love of music was predominant over everything," she said. "I've known his music since forever."

There for an audition, Cyrus offered to introduce Firerose to the Hannah Montana crew and invited her to watch the show's rehearsal. 

"She met a lot of the cast and met the producers, writers," he said. "And, in some ways, well, in a lot of ways, we became friends."

2020

While the duo stayed in touch—"Our friendship was so solid over the years," Firerose told People—their bond grew when they became songwriting partners during the pandemic. 

"She plays all of her own instruments and writes her own songs," Cyrus explained. "We began sharing music, and it just evolved."

July 2021

Cyrus and Firerose released their first song together "New Day," which they collaborated on amid Cyrus' private marital strife. Tish Cyrus filed for divorce for a second time in April 2022, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split and noting they hadn't lived together since February 2020.

"Billy confided in me a lot of what was going on in his life," Firerose explained. "I was just the best friend I could possibly be, supporting him."

 

April 2022

After finalizing his divorce with Tish and "a lot prayer," Cyrus was ready to move on and asked Firerose to be more than friends.

"When we began sharing the music, it just evolved more into, as musical soulmates, to soulmates, happy, pure love that to me, I didn't know could exist," Cyrus said. "Again, we're musicians, first and foremost, both of us. And we found this harmony, and this rhythm, this melody to life."

Soon after they began dating, Firerose moved to Cyrus' Franklin, Tenn., farm.

August 2022

Cyrus officially confirmed his relationship with Firerose when he posted the first selfie of the couple on his Instagram page. 

"Wishing everyone a brilliant time at the @vmas tonight!" he captioned the pic. "Music changes everything."

Firerose also shared the photo on her page, using it to pay tribute to her boyfriend. "The world is a better place with you in it," she wrote on Aug. 25. "Happy Birthday Billy."

October 2022

The pair celebrated the fall season with a cozy snap in front of a tree with orange and red leaves, but all eyes were on the diamond ring on Firerose's finger, fueling speculation that the couple was engaged. 

November 2022

The couple released their second collaboration "Time," with Cyrus describing the tune as a "reckoning."

"I've spent my life worried about things that are beyond my control," he told People. "But at this spot in my life, [I know] that all you really have is the happiness that you feel inside your mind and your heart."

November 2022

After months of speculation, Cyrus' rep confirmed to E! News that he was engaged to Firerose. 

"Together imagine magic everyday," Cyrus captioned a Nov. 22 selfie of the couple. "…that's what love is."

Firerose later detailed Cyrus' proposal, which happened in August at their Tennessee home. 

"Billy looked at me and said, 'Do you, do you wanna marry me?' And I was just like, 'Of course I do. I love you,'" she recalled. "He said, 'I love you. I wanna make this official. I wanna be with you forever.' "

December 2022

The singers were "dreaming of a white Christmas" while celebrating the holidays together. To commemorate the season, the couple teamed up for a cover of "Silent Night."

February 2023

While Cyrus captioned this snap "Sunsets were made for this," he and Firerose only had eyes for each other. 

June 2023

Despite reports of tension with his children following his divorce, Cyrus posted a photo with Firerose and his daughter Noah Cyrus after she announced her engagement to Pinkus.  

As for how Miley Cyrus feels about her father's romance with Firerose, a source close to the "Wrecking Ball" singer previously told E! News, "The divorce between her parents have put a strain on her relationship with her dad and it's been hard to connect with him in the last year. She hopes they can eventually work on their relationship."

The insider added that while Miley "doesn't have a relationship" with Firerose, "she, of course, hopes [Billy Ray] is happy."

 

August 2023

The engaged couple teamed up with songwriter Diane Warren for the romantic ballad "Plans," which Cyrus described as "the story of our lives" on Instagram.

The tune finds Cyrus and Firerose singing "Have you got plans for forever?" together in the chorus, with the music video featuring the pair in wedding attire. 

August 2023

The crooning couple made their official red carpet debut at the 16th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors on Aug. 23, in Nashville. After posing for photos, Cyrus and Firerose took the stage together to perform with Travis Denning during the show. 

October 2023

Billy Ray and Firerose confirmed they tied the knot in October 2023 by sharing photos from their wedding day.


"10/10/23 will always be the beautiful, joyous day that our two souls united as one in holy matrimony," they wrote on Instagram. "It was the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined.For both of us to hear the preacher say, 'Billy Ray and Firerose Cyrus… I now pronounce you husband and wife' that was the sacred moment our new forever began. Long Live Love!"

May 2024

Seven months later, Billy Ray officially filed for divorce from Firerose.

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