Firerose Claims Billy Ray Cyrus Was Still Married When They Started Dating

Billy Ray Cyrus' estranged wife Firerose is sharing more allegations of verbal and emotional abuse against him. In a new interview with Page Six, she describes a pattern of controlling behavior, lies and manipulation that she claims began long before the couple tied the knot in October 2023.

In fact, Firerose claims that their relationship began before he'd officially split from his wife Tish — but she says didn't realize that he and Tish were still together at the time.

According to Page Six, Cyrus broached the idea of a romantic relationship with Firerose in 2020 when he asked her to duet with him on a version of Tanya Tucker's "Delta Dawn." This was a decade after they first met on the set of Hannah Montana, where Cyrus' daughter Miley Cyrus starred in the titular role.

"Every day he told me, 'I'm getting divorced,' but he said it was complicated because of the kids, and they had been married for so long," Firerose recounts. "I just accepted everything he told me to be true."

She says they began dating before the release of their April 2021 duet "A New Day," but says Cyrus asked her to keep their relationship quiet. Then, a year later, he and Tish announced their divorce — and Firerose says the news came as a shock, because she believed that their marriage had already ended.

"I would never, ever have entered into a relationship with a married man, but he was such a great manipulator," she says.

In the same interview, Firerose states that Cyrus had "very strict rules" for her during their relationship, claiming that she had to read texts and emails aloud to him for permission before sending them.

"I didn't have a car. I was only allowed to go to the local chiropractor and allowed once a month to get my nails done," she elaborates. "It was systemic isolation, and I couldn't find the courage to leave."

Firerose also says that two days before their wedding on Oct. 10, 2023, the stress of Cyrus' controlling behavior became so extreme that she developed migraines, passed out and went to the hospital. She also claims that Cyrus accused her of "causing a circus" after her hospital trip.

Through their contentious divorce proceedings, Firerose and Cyrus have traded abuse allegations. He accused her of financial abuse and lying about previously being married and he has filed a restraining order against her.

Carena Liptak is an Associate Editor and staff writer at Taste of Country. She specializes in breaking country music news, interviews and lists. In particular, she’s got a soft spot for sad songs — check out her roundup of the 50 Saddest Country Songs of All Time!