Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose’s marriage is over.
In May 2024, the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer quietly filed for divorce from the Australian singer, whose real name is Johanna Rose Hodges, after only seven months of marriage. A settlement was quickly reached in early August 2024.
“ She isn’t the person he thought he married,” an insider told PEOPLE. “He believes she married him so he [could] take care of her financially.”
The duo first teamed up for a musical collaboration in 2021, and Firerose seemingly confirmed their romance in August 2022 when she paid tribute to Billy Ray on his birthday.
Firerose and Billy Ray sparked engagement rumors when she posted a photo wearing a diamond on her ring finger on Sept. 13, 2022. It was later revealed that Billy Ray had proposed the month before.
In October 2023, the couple tied the knot, announcing the news on Instagram. “10/10/23 will always be the beautiful, joyous day that our two souls united as one in holy matrimony,” they wrote. “It was the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined.”
Before Firerose, Billy Ray was married to Tish Cyrus for 28 years and the couple share five children: daughters Miley, Noah and Brandi, and sons Trace and Braison. Billy Ray also shares son Christopher Cody with Kristen Luckey, whom he dated before meeting Tish.
From her background as a singer to her biggest musical inspirations, here’s everything to know about Billy Ray Cyrus’ ex-wife.
She’s a singer-songwriter
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Like Billy Ray, Firerose is a singer-songwriter, noting on her website that she’s had a “lifelong passion for songwriting” since she was young.
“I always believed that my purpose on earth was fulfilled by music,” she wrote on her page. “And helping people up with a song I wrote gives everything so much meaning. I write from a place in my soul that’s unexplainable and I’m incredibly grateful for this gift that allows me to touch people so profoundly.”
Billy Ray and Firerose released their second musical collaboration in November 2022. While chatting with PEOPLE, the “Old Town Road” singer described the couple’s song “Time” as a “reckoning.”
“I’ve spent my life worried about things that are beyond my control,” he said. “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.”
On Dec. 16, 2022, Billy Ray posted a clip on Instagram to announce the release of the pair’s third musical collaboration: a cover of “Silent Night.” In the video, the couple could be seen wearing Santa hats in front of a Christmas tree.
In August 2023, PEOPLE exclusively premiered the music video for their fourth single together, titled “Plans.”
“It’s fantastic when a song becomes life imitating art imitating life,” Billy Ray said. “Firerose had a great vision for this video, she and the producers put together an incredible team to bring that vision to life.”
Firerose added: “‘Plans’ is such a positive song full of love and passion. Everyone on set brought their A game. I’m so excited for fans to see what we created!”
She was born in Australia
Firerose was born and raised in Sydney, Australia to “a family of symphony musicians,” per her website. She later moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in music.
She graduated from Newtown School for the Performing Arts
While residing in Sydney, Firerose attended Newtown School for the Performing Arts, which is recognized as one of the “leading Performing and Visual Arts schools in Australia,” according to the school’s website.
She is a U.S. citizen
Firerose became a U.S. citizen on July 18, 2024.
“This amazing country’s been my home for 17 years. I couldn’t be more thrilled to become a US Citizen!” she wrote on Instagram alongside a video of her waving a small American flag.
She considered Billy Ray Cyrus her “mentor”
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After releasing a handful of singles as a solo artist, Firerose got her big break when she collaborated with Billy Ray on their track ” New Day,” which she said she “originally wrote to lift herself out of one of the darkest periods of her life.”
While describing her 2021 collaboration with Billy, she called the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer her “longtime pal and mentor.”
Her biggest musical inspirations include Sia and Alanis Morisette
On her website, Firerose lists a handful of her biggest musical inspirations, including Sia and Alanis Morisette, as well as Australian rock bands such as Powderfinger, INXS and Silverchair.
She got engaged to Billy Ray Cyrus in August 2022
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After a few months of speculation, Billy Ray confirmed to PEOPLE on Nov. 16, 2022, that he and Firerose were engaged. “She’s the real deal,” Cyrus said.
About a month prior, Billy Ray and Firerose shared a series of selfies on Instagram. The caption, “Happy Autumn🧡,” didn’t distract fans from the large diamond on Firerose’s ring finger. However, Billy’s rep had no comment on the couple’s engagement at the time.
She is sober
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Instagram/firerose
In May 2023, Firerose celebrated seven years of sobriety.
“I’m so very grateful for my sobriety & all the blessings in my life today,” she wrote on Instagram. “If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, there is a way out. There’s always hope & freedom if you work for it. Don’t quit before the miracle!”
She and Billy Ray Cyrus made their red carpet debut at the ACM Honors
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Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM
In August 2023, the couple attended the ACM Honors in Nashville. Firerose walked the red carpet in a sequin jacket, ripped denim and a black cowboy hat, while Billy Ray donned an all-black ensemble and a straw hat. Later that evening, the pair performed with country singer Travis Denning.
She and Billy Ray Cyrus got married in October 2023
After a yearlong engagement, the country crooner tied the knot with Firerose on Oct. 10. The newlyweds announced their happy news in a joint statement posted to Instagram.
“10/10/23 will always be the beautiful, joyous day that our two souls united as one in holy matrimony,” they wrote. “It was the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined.”
The couple continued, “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!”
Billy Ray Cyrus filed for divorce from Firerose in May 2024
After seven months of marriage, Billy Ray filed for divorce from Firerose on May 23, 2024. Court documents cited irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct as the reason for their split.
A few weeks later, Billy Ray filed a temporary restraining order against his estranged wife to prevent “unauthorized” use of his personal and business credit cards and accounts. Firerose later accused the “Could’ve Been Me” singer of “ extreme verbal, emotional and psychological abuse.”
The former couple’s marriage was dissolved on Aug. 5, 2024. “Mr. Cyrus is relieved to put this nightmare behind him,” the country star’s attorneys said in a statement.
A separate source added: “Firerose chose to walk away without fighting for money in order to be done with the volatile relationship and anything having to do with Billy.”
