Billy Ray Cyrus is speaking out after audio and text messages were leaked that appear to incriminate his estranged wife, Firerose, and ex-wife, Tish Cyrus.
The singer filed for divorce from Firerose in May, just seven months after their marriage, and they have since been embroiled in a tense legal battle amid allegations of abuse on both sides.
In the leaked audio obtained by Page Six, Us Weekly and People, the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer can be heard calling Fire Rose “stupid” and “selfish” and repeatedly telling her to shut up.
“Oh my gosh I was lost. As the days went by I began to realize something was wrong. This was before I knew she was a cheater. I knew something wasn't right. This was before I knew she was David Hodges ex-wife. This was before I knew her parents' last names,” Billy Ray wrote on his Instagram Story on Wednesday, seemingly confirming the authenticity of the leaked rant against Firerose (real name Joanna Rosie Hodges).
Hodges is a songwriter and producer who has worked with Evanescence, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw, among others.
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Billy Ray continued, “I learned right before my eyes that everything I thought I knew about her was a lie. She was trying to take over my career, my life and steal the Cyrus name for her own gain.”
“I'll see you in court,” the 62-year-old defendant concluded.
In the leaked audio, Firerose can be heard telling her estranged husband: “Stop shouting at me.”
“I don't think you're really smart. I've changed my mind on that,” he continued in his blatant tirade.
USA TODAY reached out to a representative for Firerose.
Billy Ray's lawyers are accusing Firerose of making secret audio recordings.
Billy Ray's lawyers, Rose Palermo and Jason Talley of Cheatham, Palermo & Garrett, provided a lengthy statement to USA Today on Thursday, saying Firerose was responding to “a last-ditch effort to squeeze money out of Ms. Cyrus ahead of court-ordered mediation scheduled for next week.”
“As we announced in June, we are disappointed that Ms. Hodges has resorted to public litigation over the course of their seven-month marriage, leaving Ms. Cyrus with no recourse other than to once again set the record straight,” they continued. “Ms. Cyrus has previously acknowledged in court documents that as Ms. Hodges' true motives in the marriage became increasingly clear, she became extremely unhappy and angry with Ms. Hodges throughout their seven-month marriage.”
The lawyers argue that Firerose “knowingly put himself on his best behavior” by recording the recording without Billy Ray's knowledge.
Billy Ray's legal team concluded that they would submit “further documentation” to the divorce court “to prove the lies she has publicized throughout this litigation.”
Billy Ray and Fire Rose accuse each other of abuse
In court documents from Tennessee's Williamson County Chancery Court obtained by USA TODAY, Billy Ray countered Firerose's June 14 counterclaim by alleging the marriage was “fraudulently induced.”
The singer claimed Firerose's “allegations of abuse are merely a way to sensationalise her false accusations by using the word 'abuse'”.
Billy Ray added, “I acknowledge that in May 2024, I expressed my dissatisfaction and anger toward the defendant (Fire Rose), but it was the plaintiff (Cyrus) who actually suffered the abuse.” He also claimed that Fire Rose “not only subjected me to verbal and emotional abuse, but also to physical abuse.”
Billy Ray Cyrus, FireroseThey accuse each other of abuse amid contentious divorce
Firerose said Billy Ray had been abusive in an interview with Page Six last month.
“He was furious and yelling at me. He scared me,” she said. “It was illogical and insane and frightening.”
Billy Ray appears to call ex-girlfriend Tish Cyrus a 'slut' in leaked audio and texts
In leaked audio and text messages obtained by Page Six and Us Weekly, Billy Ray also appears to be venting his anger at his ex-wife, Tish.
The erstwhile on-and-off-and-once couple have five adult children together: Brandi, Trace, Miley, Braeson and Noah. Billy Ray adopted Tish's children, Brandi and Trace, from a previous relationship.
Billy Ray, appearing to describe himself in the third person, said that Tish has two children “from a previous marriage before she met Billy Ray.”
He later added, “No, wait, that was wrong. Not from a previous marriage. The other two children there were from when she was impregnated by two other men and were born before she met Billy Ray.”
“If that's what it says, think about it. The truth is, I mean, Noah, Brandi, Trace. And everybody knows the Devil is a slutty bitch,” he continued. Judging by the audio naming the children, it's unclear whether he's referring to Tish or Miley as “slutty bitch.”
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Tish and Miley.
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In text messages with Billy Ray's manager, the singer appeared to be referencing Tish's appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in February, writing, “Someone comes on a podcast…promoting a podcast…like 'sorry I'm drunk' and sometimes they accidentally say the truth.”
He added: “Her own words. She's a liar and a cheater. A total woman. The scum of the world. A cheater.”
Contributor: Edward Segara, Kimi Robinson
