Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose have finalized their divorce nearly three months after their separation. The settlement was confirmed on Monday by Cyrus’s attorneys, Rose Palermo and Jason Talley of Cheatham Palermo & Garrett.
The legal team released a statement indicating that the couple reached a settlement agreement at mediation last Friday, with the court officially declaring their divorce on Monday. Cyrus expressed relief at the conclusion of the proceedings, stating, “I’m very relieved and giving thanks today to breathe a sigh of relief.”
Cyrus described the divorce as “the most crazy insane scam” he had ever encountered. He criticized Firerose, whose real name is Johanna Hodges, suggesting that her motivation for marrying him was solely to gain his last name. “It was a matter of the heart. Love is blind … that’s for sure,” Cyrus remarked.
Firerose legally changed her last name to “Cyrus” shortly before the divorce was finalized. Billy Ray filed for divorce in May, citing “irreconcilable differences” and “inappropriate marital conduct,” with allegations of “consent to Marriage was obtained by Fraud.”
During the legal battle, Firerose accused Cyrus of domestic abuse, while he countered with claims of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse against her. Additionally, Cyrus claimed that Firerose spent over $96,000 on his credit cards after the divorce filing, a claim the judge supported by ruling that Firerose had no legitimate reason to access or use his credit cards.
Cyrus, 62, and Firerose, 36, married on October 10, 2023, in Franklin, Tennessee. They had met on the set of Hannah Montana before becoming musical collaborators and getting engaged in August 2022. Cyrus was previously married to Cindy Smith from 1986 to 1991 and Tish Cyrus from 1993 to 2022, with whom he shares three children—Miley, 31, Braison, 30, and Noah, 24—as well as two stepchildren, Brandi, 37, and Trace, 35.
