Billy Ray Cyrus has officially filed for divorce from his wife Firerose, less than a year after the couple exchanged vows. The marriage, which began in October 2023, seemed to unravel quickly as Cyrus, age 62, took legal steps by filing for divorce in Nashville on May 22, according to documents that PEOPLE magazine managed to obtain.
The reason behind the sudden split appears to be rooted in “irreconcilable differences” and what the documents describe as “inappropriate marital conduct.” Moreover, Cyrus is pursuing an annulment on the grounds of alleged frauds.
The relationship between Cyrus and Firerose, who was born Johanna Rose Hodges, wasn’t a fleeting romance. The duo had been friends for years and grew closer during the COVID-19 pandemic. This period of collaboration saw them writing music together and eventually, their friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship in 2022. Their journey led them to tie the knot in October 2023.
On their wedding day, they shared their joy with the world through a heartfelt Instagram post: “10/10/23 will always be the beautiful, joyous day that our two souls united as one in holy matrimony. It was the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined.”
During their time together, Cyrus and Firerose collaborated on four songs titled ‘New Day’, ‘Time’, ‘Plans’, and ‘After the Storm’. Firerose, reflecting on their work, once remarked, “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.”
Their bond was evident when they spoke about each other publicly. Firerose had referred to Cyrus as the ‘love of my life’. Cyrus echoed this sentiment during an appearance on Good Morning America in August 2023, describing their synergy in terms of perfect complementarity, “We’re kind of like… It’s a peanut butter and jelly. I’m a left-handed singer-songwriter from Flatwoods, Kentucky, and she’s a trained orchestral musician…”
Firerose also expressed her feelings, “It has been a beautiful whirlwind and I’m just so grateful that I get to live my dreams every day with the love of my life.” Cyrus used similar language in an Instagram post celebrating Firerose’s birthday, calling her the ‘beautiful love of my life’.
However, this union appears to be coming to an end. The court documents reveal Cyrus has asked Firerose to leave their shared home by May 24, even arranging $500 a night for ten days as temporary housing.
Before Firerose, Cyrus’s personal life included marriages to Cindy Smith from 1986 to 1991 and Tish Cyrus, with whom he shares his daughter Miley Cyrus, until their divorce in April 2022.