Hollywood loves a surprise romance, and this Easter, Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus delivered just that. The unlikely duo made their relationship Instagram official, sending fans into a frenzy with a cheeky PDA-filled Easter post.
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While this coupling may seem to have appeared out of nowhere, the seeds of their bond were actually planted years ago on the set of a festive rom-com.
With Hurley's son—who directed her intimate scenes in Strictly Confidential—showing his support and Cyrus’ famously complex family drama simmering in the background, this new chapter is already making headlines.
But what really brought these two together? And how are their families reacting?
How Elizabeth and Billy Ray first crossed paths
Before their Easter love reveal, Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus had already shared screen time. The pair co-starred in the 2022 holiday film Christmas in Paradise, a sequel to Father Christmas is Back. In the movie, Cyrus played Jimmy Love, a musician who joins Hurley's character, Joanna Christmas, for a holiday celebration in the Caribbean.
Reflecting on their collaboration, Hurley spoke fondly of her co-star. She told MovieWeb in 2022:
The opportunity to work with Billy Ray, whom I've long been a fan of—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.
While romance didn’t blossom then, their bond appears to have endured. By Easter 2025, the duo made it official with a photo that left fans buzzing.
Their film set connection laid the groundwork, but how has this new relationship been received by their families?
Reactions from the kids and a family rift brewing
Elizabeth’s son, Damian Hurley, 23, quickly gave the couple his stamp of approval. He commented a heart and celebration emoji under the Easter Instagram post, making it clear he’s happy for his mum.
But the same can’t be said for Billy Ray’s daughter, Miley Cyrus. According to Daily Mail, the pop superstar was reportedly unaware of her father’s new relationship. A source claimed:
Of course Miley didn't know.
She stays away from her dad as much as possible. She won't be happy about this. She's about to launch an album and a movie and this is going to overshadow it all!
The timing of the relationship reveal could be awkward for Miley, who is gearing up to release her ninth studio album Something Beautiful and an accompanying film. An insider noted to Daily Mail that Miley doesn't want the family feud drama overshadowing her music career.
This isn't the first time the Cyrus family dynamics have made headlines. In January 2025, Billy Ray’s son Trace Cyrus publicly criticised his father in an emotional Instagram post:
Sadly the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognize now.
He added:
Me and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years but you’ve pushed all of us away.
Billy Ray later responded in a YouTubeShorts caption, writing:
Praying for my family. For my children … sons and daughters…and their mother.
Yet by March, he hinted at mending fences by praising Miley and Noah's musical efforts:
Flesh and blood … completely taking their art to a whole new level. Congratulations girls.
While family tensions continue to bubble behind the scenes, Billy Ray’s romantic history adds another layer to this complex tale.
Billy Ray's tumultuous relationship past
Billy Ray Cyrus has weathered his share of relationship drama over the years. His most recent marriage to Australian singer Firerose ended in August 2024, less than a year after they tied the knot. Court documents cited 'inappropriate marital conduct' and a source told Daily Mail that Firerose 'settled for nothing just to be done with him.'
Cyrus didn’t hold back either. He described the experience as 'the most crazy insane scam I have ever heard of,' and added:
Let alone the fact I'm right in the center and basically the target of the scheme.
Before Firerose, Billy Ray was married to Tish Cyrus for nearly three decades. The couple divorced in 2022 after multiple attempts to reconcile. They said in a joint statement to People:
We have decided to go our separate ways—not with sadness, but with love in our hearts.
Tish moved on with actor Dominic Purcell and married him in 2023, with support from Miley and other children. Meanwhile, Billy Ray’s relationship with his kids seemed to unravel.
His first marriage to Cindy Smith also ended in divorce in 1991. In his memoir Hillbilly Heart, he recalled their whirlwind courtship and eventual realisation that 'our marriage was a relic from another time.'
Elizabeth Hurley, too, has had a storied romantic history. From a 13-year relationship with Hugh Grant to a high-profile engagement to late cricketer Shane Warne, and a marriage to businessman Arun Nayar, Hurley has long made headlines for her love life. In a 2020 interview with Tatler, she said she remained open to love:
I’d definitely be open to the idea of being loved, loving someone, having someone fantastic in my life and sharing it.
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Sources used:
E! News: 'How Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley Connected Years Before Romance'
The Independent: 'Elizabeth Hurley’s son reacts to mother’s surprise new relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus'
Daily Mail: 'Billy Ray Cyrus kept his relationship with Elizabeth Hurley a secret from superstar daughter Miley'
E! News: 'Inside Billy Ray Cyrus' Achy Breaky Road to Elizabeth Hurley Romance'
