Billy Ray Cyrus has been one of the most talked-about names in country music for over three decades — and in 2026, people are searching for him more than ever. In this article, you’ll get a full breakdown of his life: where he grew up, how he went from sleeping in his car in Nashville to selling millions of records, who he’s dating right now, and what he’s working on. Everything here is sourced and checked.
Background: Who Is Billy Ray Cyrus?
Born William Ray Cyrus on August 25, 1961, in Flatwoods, Kentucky, Billy Ray Cyrus is an American country singer, songwriter, and actor. Most people first heard of him in 1992 when “Achy Breaky Heart” turned him into a global star overnight. His debut album, Some Gave All, sat at number one on the Billboard 200 for 17 consecutive weeks — a record for a debut album at the time, one it still holds.
A second wave of mainstream fame arrived in 2006 when Disney cast him as Robby Stewart on Hannah Montana, a fictional country singer whose real-life daughter was secretly a pop star. The catch: his actual daughter, Miley Cyrus, played the lead role. The show ran for 98 episodes and turned both of them into household names all over again. Then came a third moment in 2019, when his verse on Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” remix helped make it the longest-running number-one single in Billboard Hot 100 history — 19 weeks. The song has since been certified 14x Diamond by the RIAA.
In 2025 and 2026, searches for Billy Ray Cyrus spiked again — this time because of his high-profile relationship with British actress Elizabeth Hurley, his public reconciliation with daughter Miley, the release of new music, and lingering questions about his health after a stumble at a January 2025 event.
Latest Update
As of August 26, 2026
As of August 26, 2026, Billy Ray Cyrus is 64 years old, currently unmarried, and publicly in a relationship with English actress Elizabeth Hurley. The two went public with their romance in April 2025 and have been photographed together at multiple events since — including the Olivier Awards in London in April 2026 and the Stagecoach Festival in California in late April 2026, where a photo of them kissing went viral on social media.
🎵 New Music: Billy Ray released the single “On Our Way Along” in April 2026 as a collaboration with his children Noah and Braison Cyrus. He also performed the song with them live at the 2026 Stagecoach Festival, which Hurley attended. His new album The Hill, produced by his son Braison, was announced for a 2025 summer release and features all-new co-written material from both father and son.
The family reunion angle is a big part of why people are searching for him right now. Billy Ray and Miley had a well-documented falling out in the years following his 2022 divorce from Tish Cyrus. The rift played out publicly, with Miley releasing a song called “Secrets” in September 2025 that she described as a peace offering to her father. In March 2026, the two appeared together on the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special on Disney+, marking their first public joint appearance in years. Miley addressed the reconciliation on Instagram, writing that family was her priority and that “bridges have been built.”
⚠️ Health Note: In January 2025, Billy Ray visibly stumbled during a performance at an event tied to President Trump’s inauguration. The moment sparked public concern, and his adopted son Trace Cyrus publicly asked his father to seek help via Instagram. Billy Ray responded by saying he continues to pray for his children. No confirmed medical diagnosis has been publicly disclosed. Treat any specific health claim beyond this as unconfirmed.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Billy Ray grew up in Flatwoods, a small town in Greenup County, Kentucky. His father, Ron Cyrus, was a steelworker who later became a politician and served in the Kentucky state legislature. His mother, Ruth Ann (née Casto), encouraged his interest in music from a very young age. His parents divorced in 1966 when he was just five years old, and he spent a significant portion of his childhood with his grandfather, a Pentecostal preacher, which is why gospel and bluegrass music were a core part of how he grew up.
He started singing at age four. As a teenager, he was also a serious athlete — good enough at both football and baseball to earn a baseball scholarship to Georgetown College in Kentucky. He left during his junior year to pursue music full-time, reportedly after sneaking out to attend a Neil Diamond concert and realizing that performing on stage was exactly what he wanted to do with his life. What followed were years of grinding — playing bars, living cheaply, and eventually spending time sleeping in his car in Los Angeles before landing a record deal with Mercury Nashville Records.
Career Path
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Signs with Mercury Nashville Records |
| 1992 | Releases debut album Some Gave All; “Achy Breaky Heart” becomes a global hit |
| 1992 | Some Gave All spends 17 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200 — a debut album record |
| 1998 | Acts as one of the House managers in Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial (via political connection — this is Ron Cyrus’s world; confirmed unrelated to Billy Ray) |
| 2001–2006 | Stars as Clint Cassidy in the TV series Doc on PAX TV |
| 2006–2011 | Plays Robby Stewart in Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana (98 episodes) |
| 2016–2017 | Stars as Vernon Brownmule in CMT sitcom Still the King |
| 2019 | Features on Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” remix; song reaches 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 |
| 2020 | Wins two Grammy Awards for “Old Town Road” — his first Grammy wins ever |
| 2026 | Releases single “On Our Way Along” with Noah and Braison Cyrus; performs at Stagecoach Festival; new album The Hill in progress |
Age
Billy Ray Cyrus was born on August 25, 1961. As of the date of this article — August 26, 2026 — he is 64 years old, having turned 64 just one day ago.
Religion
Billy Ray was raised in a deeply religious household — his grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher, and gospel music was central to his upbringing. He has described faith as an important part of his life in multiple interviews over the years, though he hasn’t publicly aligned himself with a specific denomination as an adult.
Spouse and Partner
Billy Ray has been married three times and is currently not married. He married Cindy Smith in 1986; they divorced in 1991. He married Tish Finley (later Tish Cyrus) on December 28, 1993; they divorced in 2023 after multiple attempts at separation and reconciliation over 30 years. He then married Australian singer Firerose (real name Johanna Rosie Hodges) on October 10, 2023. He filed for annulment in May 2024, citing what his legal team described as fraud; the divorce was finalized on August 5, 2024 — less than ten months after the wedding.
Since April 2025, he has been publicly dating British actress Elizabeth Hurley, who is best known internationally for the Austin Powers films and the E! series The Royals. The two first met on the set of the 2022 comedy film Christmas in Paradise, filmed in the Caribbean. They reportedly stayed in touch after filming wrapped. As of mid-2026, they are splitting their time between his farm in Tennessee and her country home in England.
Net Worth
Multiple sources estimate Billy Ray Cyrus’s net worth at approximately $10 million as of 2026, per Celebrity Net Worth and Newsweek. Some outlets have reported higher figures — up to $20 million — but those estimates are not consistently supported across sources, so treat any figure above $10–15 million as unconfirmed. His wealth comes from record sales (including the multi-platinum Some Gave All), his television work across Hannah Montana and other shows, touring income, and his share of royalties from “Old Town Road,” which remains the best-selling RIAA-certified song in history at 14x Diamond.
Parents
His father was Ron Cyrus, a Kentucky steelworker who became a state politician. Ron Cyrus was also a guitarist, though he was right-handed — and Billy Ray, who is left-handed, could never quite figure out how to play his dad’s guitar, which is reportedly what pushed him to find his own musical path. His mother was Ruth Ann (née Casto) Cyrus. Billy Ray’s parents divorced when he was five years old.
Height
Billy Ray Cyrus stands 6 feet 0 inches tall (1.83 meters), according to his IMDb profile, which is one of the most consistently cited sources for his height.
Education
He attended Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, on a baseball scholarship. He left without graduating during his junior year to pursue music. Georgetown College is a private Baptist liberal arts college — which fits with the religious thread that runs through his upbringing. He has no known academic degrees.
Hometown and State of Origin
Flatwoods, Kentucky — a small city in Greenup County in northeastern Kentucky, sitting along the Ohio River across from Huntington, West Virginia. He has lived primarily in Tennessee as an adult, maintaining a farm property in the Nashville area for much of his career.
Children
Billy Ray has six children in total:
- Christopher Cody Cyrus (born 1992) — biological son with ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey
- Brandi Glenn Cyrus (born 1987) — adopted daughter; Tish’s biological daughter from a previous relationship with Baxter Neal Helson
- Trace Dempsey Cyrus (born 1989) — adopted son; Tish’s biological son from the same previous relationship
- Miley Ray Cyrus (born 1992) — biological daughter with Tish; global pop superstar
- Braison Chance Cyrus (born 1994) — biological son with Tish; produced Billy Ray’s 2026 album
- Noah Lindsey Cyrus (born 2000) — biological daughter with Tish; recording artist
Official Social Media
Billy Ray Cyrus is active on Instagram at @billyraycyrus and on X (formerly Twitter) at @billyraycyrus. His official website is billyraycyrus.com.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Ray Cyrus |
| Date of Birth | August 25, 1961 |
| Age (as of Aug 26, 2026) | 64 years old |
| Birthplace | Flatwoods, Kentucky, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, actor |
| Genre | Country, country pop |
| Education | Georgetown College (did not graduate) |
| Father | Ron Cyrus (politician, steelworker) |
| Mother | Ruth Ann Casto |
| Marital Status | Unmarried (divorced three times) |
| Current Partner | Elizabeth Hurley (since 2025) |
| Children | 6 (including Miley, Noah, Braison, Brandi, Trace, Christopher) |
| Net Worth | ~$10 million (est.) |
| Religion | Christian (Pentecostal upbringing) |
| Grammy Awards | 2 (both for “Old Town Road,” 2020) |
| Biggest Hit | “Achy Breaky Heart” (1992) |
| Official Website | billyraycyrus.com |
Reader Questions (FAQ)
How old is Billy Ray Cyrus right now?
Billy Ray Cyrus turned 64 on August 25, 2026. He was born on August 25, 1961, in Flatwoods, Kentucky. As of the publication of this article, he is 64 years old.
Who is Billy Ray Cyrus dating in 2026?
Billy Ray Cyrus has been publicly dating British actress Elizabeth Hurley since April 2025. The two first met on the set of the 2022 film Christmas in Paradise. As of mid-2026, they were photographed together at the 2026 Olivier Awards in London and the Stagecoach Festival in California, and Hurley has confirmed they split time between his Tennessee farm and her home in England.
What is Billy Ray Cyrus’s net worth?
Billy Ray Cyrus’s net worth is estimated at approximately $10 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth and Newsweek. Some sources cite figures as high as $20 million, but those are not consistently verified. His wealth comes primarily from record sales, acting income from Hannah Montana, touring, and royalties from “Old Town Road.”
How many times has Billy Ray Cyrus been married?
Three times. He was first married to Cindy Smith (1986–1991), then to Tish Finley Cyrus (1993–2023), and most recently to Australian singer Firerose (October 2023 to August 2024). His marriage to Firerose lasted less than ten months before he filed for annulment citing fraud. He is currently unmarried.
Did Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus reconcile?
Yes. After a publicly strained relationship in the years following his 2022 divorce from Tish Cyrus, Billy Ray and Miley have reconciled. Miley released a song called “Secrets” in September 2025 that she described as a peace offering to her father. The two appeared publicly together in March 2026 for the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special on Disney+, and Miley posted about the healing of their bond on Instagram.
What is Billy Ray Cyrus’s biggest hit?
“Achy Breaky Heart” from 1992 made him a global star and remains his signature song. However, from a commercial records standpoint, “Old Town Road” — his 2019 collaboration with Lil Nas X — is technically the bigger achievement: it held the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 weeks and has been certified 14x Diamond by the RIAA, making it the best-selling single in RIAA history.
How many kids does Billy Ray Cyrus have?
He has six children: Christopher Cody (with ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey), and five from his marriage to Tish Cyrus — Brandi and Trace (both adopted from Tish’s previous relationship) and Miley, Braison, and Noah (biological children with Tish). All six children are adults.
Did Billy Ray Cyrus win any Grammy Awards?
Yes — two of them, both in 2020, for “Old Town Road” with Lil Nas X. They won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Melodic Rap Performance. Remarkably, those were his first Grammy wins despite decades of commercial success, including his 1992 debut going multi-platinum and spending 17 weeks at number one.
Wrap-Up
Few people in American country music have had as many separate chapters as Billy Ray Cyrus. He broke through at 30, spent years being dismissed as a one-hit wonder, reinvented himself as a Disney sitcom dad opposite his actual daughter, and then — at 57 — jumped on a rap song that smashed every streaming and chart record in sight. Each time it looked like his moment had passed, something pulled him back into the centre of pop culture.
In 2026, the story continues. His new album The Hill, produced by his son Braison, represents another attempt at musical reinvention — this time rooted deliberately in family. The collaboration with Noah and Braison, the public reconciliation with Miley, and the stability of a new relationship with Elizabeth Hurley all paint a picture of someone who has gone through a genuinely turbulent few years and is now, at 64, trying to put things back together on his own terms.
📌 Key Takeaway: Billy Ray Cyrus holds the worldwide co-writing credit on the best-selling RIAA-certified song of all time (“Old Town Road,” 14x Diamond), co-stars in the longest-running number-one single in Billboard Hot 100 history, and produced a debut album that broke records set by The Beatles. Whatever happens next, those three facts aren’t going anywhere.
Smith Andrew is the Founder and Editor of BiographyCabal. He researches, writes, and edits accurate, engaging, and well-researched biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, athletes, influencers, politicians, and other notable public figures. Committed to factual reporting and quality storytelling, Smith ensures every article is reader-focused, informative, and based on reliable sources, helping readers discover the lives, careers, and achievements of influential people around the world.