Billy Ray Cyrus’ ex-wife, Firerose, accused him of “narcissistic abuse,” but her family have come forward to defend him to Page Six.
Country music star Cyrus, 64 — now dating actress Elizabeth Hurley, 60 — has been publicly accused of mistreatment by Firerose, 37, many times since they split in May 2024 after seven months of marriage.
She alleged that while with the “Old Town Road” singer he isolated her from her loved ones, but her parents, Stephen and Debbie, say that doesn’t include them.
Billy Ray Cyrus and ex-wife Firerose, whom he divorced in May, 2024, continue to have a fraught relationship. billyraycyrus/Instagram
“It’s important to set the record straight about the lie that Billy Ray cut her off from her family. That is not true,” Firerose’s father, Stephen, who asked not to use his last name for privacy purposes, exclusively told Page Six.
“Cutting her off from her family had nothing to do with Billy Ray,” Stephen said.
Firerose’s parents say things were the other way around and they haven’t spoken to their daughter since 2020 when she “completely cut off all communication with us,” leaving them desperate to reconcile.
Cyrus and Firerose’s short marriage has been marred by allegations of emotional abuse on both sides, court documents show.
The Australia-born singer previously claimed to Page Six she endured “systematic isolation,” alleging her friends and family were banned from visiting her while she was married to the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer, saying: “If I had to send a text, I had to read it out to him for permission. It was the same for email.”
Firerose, 37, accused the country music star of “emotional abuse,” and alleged he cut her off from loved ones. Now, her estranged parents are coming to Billy Ray’s defense. Firerose/TikTok
The pair tied the knot in October, 2023 and filed for divorce the following May, 2024 after seven months. Lisa Rhea Photography
Cyrus has strongly denied those claims, which were also made in court papers, and through his lawyers accused Firerose of verbally, emotional and physical abusing him. Cyrus declined to comment for this story.
A rep for Firerose told Page Six she was not referring to her parents but her close friends in her statement about being isolated, adding: “She has been in no-contact with the individuals you referenced [her parents] for over a decade — well before her relationship with Mr. Cyrus began. As such, they do not have firsthand knowledge of her adult life or the relationship in question.”
The singer-songwriter, who legally changed her name from Johanna Rosie Hodges to Firerose, moved to Los Angeles at age 19 to pursue her showbiz career. Her parents note they helped pay her way to La La Land.
“She went to LA to become an actress. We, her parents, paid for the planet ticket, acting school fees for 18 months, a car and her living expenses there — for several years,” Stephen told Page Six.
Before dating Cyrus, Firerose struggled with addiction, leading to an arrest in July 2016 and 60 days behind bars, which she said helped her get sober.
“It’s important to set the record straight about the lie that Billy Ray cut her off from her family. That is not true,” Firerose’s father, Stephen, who asked Page Six not to use his last name for privacy purposes, said in an exclusive interview with Page Six. Instagram/firerose
“Cutting off from her family had nothing to do with Billy Ray,” Firerose’s father, Stephen (right), told Page Six. The Aussie singer has been estranged from her family since 2020, her parents say. Courtesy photo
Firerose’s parents, mother Debbie (left) and father Stephen, say they haven’t spoken to their daughter since 2020, when their daughter cut off communication with them, they claimed. Courtesy photo
“I had a few really difficult, dark years,” she told Page Six in July 2024.
“I was at rock bottom, as we say in the recovery community … I was a few weeks away from death, if that.”
Her parents claim they tried to support their daughter through recovery.
“Before she cut us off she had a history over years of cutting many other people out of her life, telling us that they had exploited her or victimized her in some way,” Debbie told Page Six.
Cyrus first met Firerose years after first meeting in 2010 on the set of Cyrus daughter Miley Cyrus’ hit show “Hannah Montana.” Broadimage/REX
Firerose began dating Cyrus — a father of six, including singer Miley — around August 2022, after splitting from his longtime partner, Tish Cyrus.
The pair tied the knot during an intimate garden ceremony on October 10, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The pair released several songs together including “Time” in 2022 and “After The Storm” in 2024 and even had big dreams of being “the next Sonny and Cher,” according to a source.
Cyrus finalized his divorce from Firerose in August 2024, and the Aussie singer walked away with nothing, Page Six previously reported.
Firerose and Cyrus got engaged in August, 2022 in Tennessee. billyraycyrus/Instagram
Firerose and the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer, who released several songs together, including “Time” in 2022 and “After The Storm” in 2024, had big dreams of being “the next Sonny and Cher,” according to a source familiar with the couple. Getty Images for ACM
Firerose’s dream, according to her parents, has always been to become a star.
“She obviously gained publicity through marrying Billy Ray Cyrus,” Stephen said, noting he and wife Debbie only want the best for their daughter.
“By estranging herself from us, her loving family, she has caused us enormous pain,” Stephen added.