Billy Ray Cyrus 'turned to Liz Hurley for help during third divorce'

Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley's unexpected new romance was reportedly first sparked last year, when she came to his aid as his third marriage crumbled.

The singer, 63, and the actress, 59, sent the internet into a frenzy on Easter Sunday as they announced their relationship to the world with an Instagram snap of them canoodling by a fence in a field.

The surprise hard-launch shocked fans, coming just months after Billy's whirlwind divorce from singer Firerose in August, following a dramatic break-up that played out both publicly and privately.

However, new reports claim that it was Billy and Firerose's split that laid the foundation for his romance with Liz, with the Achy Breaky Heart star said to have reached out to the model for help during the 'really hard time'.

A source told The Sun: 'There has always been a spark, but he reached out again last year when his short-lived third marriage ended. He has had a really hard time, but she has been there helping him turn things around. 

'Liz has been really great for him, but her friends are cautious because of what’s been said in the past about him. She insists he has turned a corner and is a changed man.'

They went on to reveal that the Bedazzled star has been helping Billy Ray by urging him to take steps to fix his relationship with his estranged children.

Pop star Miley Cyrus and her father have had a strained relationship over the years, as have several of her siblings, including sister Noah, 25. 

While Liz has a famously close relationship with her own son Damian, 23, with the pair saying they are more like 'siblings' than parent and child.

The insider said: 'Liz has been encouraging [Billy Ray] to mend his fractured relationship with his daughter Miley, as well as his other children. Her closeness with Damian is inspiring.'

A source previously told DailyMail.com that Billy Ray became 'a recluse' since his split from Firerose because he 'truly believed' she was 'the one.'

'Since [their divorce], Billy has shut a lot of people out because he really trusts no one,' they added.

Billy and Firerose announced their engagement in August 2022 and went on to exchange vows at their farm in October 2023.

However, in June 2024, news hit the web that the couple were going their separate ways after only seven months of marriage. 

At the time, TMZ reported that Billy Ray had filed for divorce weeks prior, and he cited 'irreconcilable differences' and 'inappropriate marital conduct' for what led to her split.

Afterwards, both of them made a slew of allegations against one another during an extremely messy court battle.

In legal documents, he claimed she was after his money and accused her of 'physical, emotional and verbal abuse.'

She also accused the singer of 'verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse,' and claimed he had 'persistent drug use accompanied with the consumption of marijuana.' Both of them denied the other's claims.

While speaking to Page Six at the time, Firerose alleged that Billy Ray constantly screamed at her and made her feel like a 'prisoner' in their Tennessee home during their marriage.

She also accused the singer of 'isolating' her from her friends and family and said that he had attempted to control her by implementing a set of 'rules' for her to follow.  

Court documents obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com show that Firerose walked away with $0, but according to a source, she was perfectly content with how things played out.

'She settled for nothing just to be done with him and get away from the situation,' the insider told DailyMail.com.

Meanwhile, DailyMail.com revealed that Billy Ray's ex-wife Tish Cyrus suspected that he cheated on her with his new girlfriend Liz all the way back in 2022.

Liz and Billy Ray starred opposite each other as Joanna Christmas and famous singer Jimmy Love, in the 2022 film Christmas in Paradise.

Liz later confessed that 'the opportunity to work with Billy Ray' was one of the main reasons she shot the film.

She gushed to MovieWeb in 2022: 'I've long been a fan of [Billy Ray]. My son was the age where he used to watch Hannah Montana all the time, so of course, I used to watch it with him. 

'I knew Billy Ray really well from that, and of course, some of his music. That was a big plus.'

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, an insider claimed that Billy Ray's ex-wife Tish saw the duo grow close during production of the film, prior to their divorce.

They said: 'Billy Ray met Elizabeth in 2022 on the set of their Christmas film, which they both starred in.

'Tish had her thoughts and suspicions at the time that he was cheating on her with Liz, but Billy Ray flat out denied it.

'They got very close on the set and seeing that they are together now is a slap in the face for Tish, but it also confirms that she was likely right about her suspicions. They never stopped being in contact.'

Tish and Billy Ray officially divorced in April 2022 after nearly three decades of marriage. They share daughters Miley, 32, and Noah, 25, and son Braison, 30.

Billy Ray also adopted Tish's daughter Brandi, 37, and son Trace, 36, from her previous marriage.

 While Liz's last long-term relationship with late Aussie cricketer Shane Warne ended in 2013, following a marriage to Arun Nayar, a 13-year romance with Hugh Grant, and a son, Damian, with the late Steve Bing.