Billy Ray Cyrus’ Ex-Wife, Firerose, Says Singer Tried To Control Her Life: ‘I Should Have Run In The Opposite Direction’

Firerose is breaking her silence about the tumultuous relationship that unfolded behind closed doors with country music star Billy Ray Cyrus. After finalizing their divorce in August 2024, the Australian singer is reflecting on the warning signs she wishes she had heeded when they first met in 2010. 

“If I could talk to my younger self, I’d tell her to run in the opposite direction and never look back,” Firerose revealed in a recent interview with Stellar magazine.

Their first meeting took place on a Hollywood studio lot where Hannah Montana was filmed. Firerose recalled how Cyrus’ dog had approached her, sparking an initial conversation. 

The pair eventually developed a close connection, but Firerose admitted she had immediate reservations. “My gut instinct, honestly, was: What does this guy want? I probably should have had way better boundaries,” she said. At the time, Cyrus was still married to his longtime wife, Tish Cyrus​.

Despite those early concerns, the two reconnected years later during the pandemic. What started as a collaborative friendship turned into a romantic relationship culminating in a four-year romance and a seven-month marriage.

Firerose revealed that although Cyrus often referred to her as his “soulmate,” their relationship was far from ideal. She described how Cyrus lovebombed her with promises that ultimately went unfulfilled. “He’d say bizarre things like, ‘We’re going to have this epic love story beyond anything you can imagine. We’re going to have twins and call them Melody and Harmony,'” Firerose recounted. 

But these fantasies never came true​. After their wedding in October 2023, Firerose became increasingly cut off from her friends and family. Reflecting on her wedding day, she shared that she had only one guest — a hairstylist who was allowed to attend only because she was doing Firerose’s hair.

“My family and friends all had the same experience: me withdrawing and pushing them away,” Firerose recalled. “The way I experienced it was: ‘Oh, he’s just really protective.'”

“It was quite hurtful, in retrospect, and it breaks my heart,” she continued. “How did I not think that that was so weird and unacceptable? I justified it like, well, that’s my life now. I accepted his lunacy as reality.”

According to Firerose, the “Old Town Road” singer would control her in all aspects of living. She mentioned he would often say such things as, “Well, you can’t live that way anymore. You’re a Cyrus now. You can’t be going to church. You can’t be going to public places where people could follow you home. You’re going to be murdered.'”

Looking back, Firerose expressed regrets about not recognizing the red flags sooner. “All I ever tried to do was love and trust this person, which was very ignorant of me,” she explained. 

She hopes that sharing her story will help others avoid similar situations. “I had to learn that it was something outside of me, something that I couldn’t fix,” she said. 

A recently released audio recording showed Cyrus berating Firerose.