Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus has filed for divorce from his wife of just seven months, Firerose, citing irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct. In a surprising twist, Cyrus is also seeking an annulment of the marriage, claiming that consent to the union was obtained by fraud, according to court documents.
The divorce filing, submitted on May 23 in Williamson County, Tennessee, reveals that the couple separated on May 22, with Cyrus requiring Firerose to leave his residence shortly thereafter. The 62-year-old singer, best known for his hit single "Achy Breaky Heart" and being the father of pop star Miley Cyrus, will be required to provide spousal support to his estranged wife, 35-year-old Johanna Rose Hodges, professionally known as Firerose.
According to the court documents, Cyrus will pay Firerose $500 per night for 10 nights to cover the costs of temporary lodging as she searches for a new home. Additionally, he will provide her with $5,000 per month for 90 days or until the dissolution of the marriage to help her obtain suitable housing in the middle Tennessee area.
The couple's brief marriage has been a source of tension within the Cyrus family, particularly with Billy Ray's daughter, Miley. The 31-year-old singer made a point to thank her "mommy" and "sister" when accepting a Grammy earlier this year but notably omitted any mention of her father. Furthermore, Miley walked her mother, Tish Cyrus, down the aisle when she remarried actor Dominic Purcell last summer but did not attend Billy Ray's wedding to Firerose just months later.
Fans have speculated that Miley resents her father for dating someone just four years her senior. Billy Ray first met Firerose over a decade ago on the set of "Hannah Montana," where she was auditioning. The couple began dating shortly before Billy Ray finalized his divorce from Tish in 2022, after nearly 30 years of marriage.
Despite the family tensions, Billy Ray has reportedly tried to reach out to Miley on numerous occasions. A source told Us Weekly that he had "tried reaching out to Miley many times" shortly after the Grammys. Just days before news of the split became public, Billy Ray posted a childhood photo of Miley on Instagram, expressing his pride in her accomplishments.
The couple's whirlwind romance began as a friendship, with Firerose crediting Billy Ray's dog, Tex, for introducing them on the set of "Hannah Montana" 14 years ago. In a 2022 interview with People magazine, the couple described their relationship as evolving from "musical soulmates" to "happy, pure love."
Billy Ray and Firerose tied the knot on October 10, 2023, in what they described as "the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined." The newlyweds shared photos from their idyllic nuptials on Instagram, expressing their joy and belief that their union marked the beginning of their "new forever."
As the divorce proceedings unfold, questions remain about the alleged fraud that led to the marriage and the specific nature of the inappropriate marital conduct cited in the filing. The couple's brief union and abrupt separation have garnered significant media attention, given Billy Ray's high-profile status and the apparent strain it has placed on his relationship with his children, particularly Miley.
The Cyrus family has experienced significant changes in recent years, with Tish Cyrus marrying Dominic Purcell in a small poolside ceremony at Miley's Malibu home in August 2023, just months before Billy Ray's wedding to Firerose. As the family navigates these personal challenges, the public will undoubtedly continue to follow the developments in Billy Ray and Firerose's divorce closely.
