The Dark Side of Billy Ray Cyrus

Don’t let his achy breaky heart fool you — Billy Ray Cyrus has a shady side. The country music singer is the patriarch of an incredibly famous family of musicians, but the spotlight hasn’t always been too kind to the Cyrus clan. Rifts, break-ups, shade-throwing, and the pressure of show business take their toll, and the “Could’ve Been Me” singer seems to be caught in the middle of a salacious tabloid news cycle that doesn’t exactly paint him in the best light. His tumultuous relationship with an Australian singer nearly 30 years his junior doesn’t help his case, especially after his divorce from his ex-wife Tish caused a serious divide in his once unified family front.

But instead of doing damage control, Cyrus seems to dig a deeper hole for himself regarding the media. A damning audio recording of the singer and his now ex-wife Firerose released in July of 2024 had many listeners speculating that he could have a darker side, coming to that conclusion after a 2-minute audio clip featured him berating and belittling her. But in the wake of the controversy, the singer doesn’t seem to be sweating the consequences. It’s nothing new for the star, who has been navigating the tabloids ever since his daughter donned a blonde wig and morphed into Hannah Montana.

He might have played an endearing father on Disney Channel, but the country star’s reputation isn’t as sterling over a decade later. We’re breaking down the shady side of Billy Ray Cyrus.

In 1992, Travis Tritt and Billy Ray Cyrus were two-stepping all over each other. Tritt had just released his third studio album, “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” while newcomer Cyrus had just released his debut album, “Some Gave All.”

Tritt wasn’t a fan of Cyrus’ hit “Achy Breaky Heart” and expressed his disdain in the media. According to The Boot, Tritt criticized the track as “frivolous” and accused the singer’s music video of turning the genre into an “a** wiggling contest.”

When Cyrus won Favorite Country Single at the American Music Awards in 1993, he took a dig at Tritt by saying, “To those people who don’t like ‘Achy Breaky Heart,’ here’s a quarter; call someone who cares!” The feud simmered down after both artists performed together at Waylon Jennings’ memorial in 2002, with Tritt later expressing regret over his comments.

Billy Ray Cyrus faced social media scrutiny in 2013 after Miley made shocking statements about him. Amid rumors of Billy Ray’s infidelity, Miley tweeted, “Since you won’t reply to my texts I’m giving you an hour to tell the truth or I’ll tell it for you,” alongside a photo of her with Billy Ray’s then-Broadway co-star Dylis Croman.

Many saw the tweet as an implication of a cheating scandal, but Miley later deleted it, leaving fans to speculate. The alleged affair has never been confirmed or denied.

In 2019, Billy Ray Cyrus caused controversy by posting a photo of Tish posing next to several bags of what appeared to be marijuana. He captioned it, “Yes! Like I said yesterday @TishCyrus … My how the times are changing #CrAzYMaMa.” The post sparked a firestorm of negative comments.

Tish defended herself, saying, “First of all … my husband @billyraycyrus is INSANE. Second, this picture is also insane, and third this is NOT my weed or my house. Hahah. But if it was, that would be amazing for so many reasons!”

Billy Ray has since been involved in the marijuana business, developing “Midnight Special” pre-rolls with Lowell Herb Co. in 2020. Miley has also mentioned her parents’ fondness for getting high together.

Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus have had a turbulent relationship through the years. The singer first filed for divorce in 2010 amid rumors of Tish’s alleged affair with Bret Michaels. They called off the filing in 2011, and things seemed better for a while.

In 2013, Tish filed for divorce, but they reconciled again within a month, citing couple’s therapy as a turning point. Nearly a decade later, in 2022, Tish filed for divorce for a third and final time, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

While Tish moved on with “Prison Break” star Dominic Purcell, Billy Ray started an on-again-off-again relationship with Firerose.

In 2022, Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus unfollowed each other on social media, sparking rumors of a rift. According to Perez Hilton, Miley was the first to unfollow, and Billy Ray followed suit soon after. Reports suggested that Firerose was behind the social media actions, aiming to isolate Billy Ray from his loved ones.

Despite speculation, a source claimed that Billy Ray and Miley were not feuding. However, Miley has not followed him back since then.

Miley Cyrus made a major snub while accepting her Grammy for Record of the Year in 2024. After winning with her hit record “Flowers,” she thanked several people close to her but notably excluded Billy Ray.

Viewers quickly noticed the omission, leading to further speculation about a rift. Reports suggested that Miley’s relationship with her father deteriorated following Tish’s divorce from Billy Ray and her subsequent closer bond with her mother.

Miley was present at her mother’s wedding but reportedly skipped Billy Ray’s nuptials to Firerose.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose’s whirlwind romance hit rock bottom just seven months after they married in October 2023. Billy Ray filed for divorce and annulment in June 2024, citing verbal, emotional, and physical abuse from Firerose. Firerose countered with accusations of Billy Ray’s persistent drug use and erratic behavior.

Billy Ray also sought a temporary restraining order against Firerose, alleging she racked up nearly $100,000 in unauthorized credit card charges. Firerose’s attorney denied these accusations, insisting that both parties should maintain the status quo during the proceedings.

Miley Cyrus has been open about inheriting both the good and the bad from her father. On “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” with David Letterman, she discussed how Billy Ray kept a level head even at the height of his fame, and how he served as both a guide on what to do and what not to do.

However, Miley admitted she also inherited some less-than-desirable qualities, mentioning, “I also inherited the narcissism from my father.” Despite this, she remains grateful for how her father has helped shape her. She acknowledged that while Billy Ray influenced her perspective on life, her mother Tish was primarily responsible for her upbringing.