Firerose Reflects on Brief Marriage to Billy Ray Cyrus: 'I Should Have Run'

Firerose Reflects on Brief Marriage to Billy Ray Cyrus: 'I Should Have Run'


Billy Ray Cyrus' ex-wife, Firerose, has opened up about her whirlwind romance with the country singer and what she would do differently if given the chance. In a candid interview with Stellar magazine, the Sydney-born musician, whose real name is Johanna Rosie Hodges, reflected on her short marriage and divorce from the Achy Breaky Heart star.

Speaking to Stellar on October 12, Firerose didn’t hold back, saying she wished she could have told her 22-year-old self to “run in the opposite direction and never look back.” The two first met over a decade ago, on the set of Hannah Montana, but their relationship only blossomed years later during the pandemic. At the time of their first encounter, Firerose described herself as a "starving artist" who didn’t even own a TV, meaning she wasn’t too familiar with Cyrus or his fame.

While she admitted to feeling uneasy when they first met, Firerose shared that Billy Ray offered to introduce her to a few people, and they spent the day together. “My gut instinct, honestly, was: What does this guy want? I probably should have had way better boundaries,” she reflected.

Back then, Cyrus was still married to his second wife, Tish, but the couple separated in 2022. After reconnecting, Firerose and Cyrus bonded over their shared love of music and eventually tied the knot in October 2023. However, their honeymoon period didn’t last long. Just seven months into the marriage, Cyrus filed for divorce in May 2024, citing irreconcilable differences and allegations of financial misconduct on Firerose’s part. He even sought an annulment, claiming she had fraudulently charged $96,000 on his credit card.

Firerose has since pushed back on his accusations. In a countersuit, she claimed Billy Ray subjected her to “extreme verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse.” She also told Page Six that she was blindsided by his decision to divorce her, alleging he forced her out of their home on the day she was scheduled to undergo a double mastectomy.

In her latest interview, Firerose painted a picture of an increasingly controlling relationship. She shared that Billy Ray had strict rules, limiting her access to simple pleasures like getting her nails done and even denying her the use of a car. “It was systematic isolation,” she said, adding that his protectiveness had initially seemed caring, but it became a form of control.

The emotional toll of the relationship left Firerose feeling like a shell of her former self. “For someone who’s had so many good things happen to him, and so much luck and so many blessings, to be that empty is really sad,” she expressed.

Their divorce was finalized in August 2024. Firerose walked away without any financial compensation, but she did gain full rights to the songs they wrote and published together during their relationship.