Billy Ray Cyrus Accuses Ex Firerose of Physical, Emotional and Verbal Abuse Amid Divorce

Details of Billy Ray Cyrus' divorce continue to unfold. 

One month after the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer filed for divorce from Firerose (real name Johanna Rosie Hodges), Billy Ray is not only denying her "mind boggling" accusations of abuse but is also alleging in new court documents—obtained by People—that his estranged wife abused him. 

"While the Plaintiff would acknowledge that he was certainly vocal, frustrated and angry with the Defendant in May 2024, it is the plaintiff who, in fact, has been abused," the documents, filed in Tennessee on June 24, read. "Not only verbally and emotionally by the Defendant, but PHYSICALLY abused by Defendant."

The new documents—which also include an affidavit from Billy Ray's manager Scott Adkins who claims to have witnessed described abuse—state that Firerose, 36, threatened to end the 62-year-old's career if he wanted to end their marriage, adding she would tell the public that he wanted to divorce because she needed a double mastectomy.

Billy Ray—who shares kids Brandi Cyrus, 37, Trace Cyrus, 35, Miley Cyrus, 31, Braison Cyrus, 30, and Noah Cyrus, 24, with ex Tish Cyrus as well as Christopher Cody Cyrus, 32, from a previous relationship—further alleges in the filings that Firerose was a known carrier of the BRCA1 gene mutation, which greatly increases risk of breast cancer, prior to their marriage but did not tell him. 

In response to the new filings, a rep for Firerose—who initially accused Billy Ray of "extreme verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse" in June 14 court documents—denied his allegations in a June 25 statement to E! News. 

"His story keeps evolving and this filing is simply another abusive tactic to distract away from the serious, true allegations brought against him," the statement reads. "The only individuals supporting his false claims are those on his payroll, whose credibility is questionable."

Firerose's rep also addressed her possession of the BRCA1 gene mutation. As the statement notes, "the audacity to question a BRCA-positive women's decision to undergo a preventative surgery further shows the kind of cruel manipulation Firerose was subjected to."

Shortly after Firerose's own claims of Billy Ray's alleged abuse became public, his own attorneys, Rose Palermo and Jason Talley, issued a response to E! News. 

"We regret that Ms. Hodges has chosen to litigate this 7-month marriage in the press and has left Mr. Cyrus with no recourse but to set the record straight," the statement read, adding that her accusation was, "confusing and suspicious in its veracity since she begged Mr. Cyrus to forgive her and take her back only two days after he filed his pleadings to dissolve his marriage."

Keep reading to untangle Billy Ray and Firerose's former romance. 

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."

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."

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."

 

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.

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."

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. 

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."

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.' "

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."

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

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."

 

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. 

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. 

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!"

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

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