Billy Ray Cyrus Finds a New Tune: Elizabeth Hurley Romance Makes Him 'Happiest in a Long Time'

Billy Ray Cyrus is singing a happier tune these days, and it might just have a British accent. The country star credits his new romance with actress Elizabeth Hurley for bringing him more joy than he’s felt in ages, a turn of events that followed some rough patches in his personal life.

Hurley and Cyrus, who first crossed paths while filming Christmas in Paradise back in 2022, recently made their relationship Instagram official by sharing a sweet Easter photo—complete with Cyrus donning green bunny ears for the occasion. Hurley was the one who reached out to Cyrus, sending a supportive text at a time when he was still reeling from his split with his third wife, Firerose.

Cyrus, now 63, opened up on The Ty Bentli Show, calling their connection "a gift from God" and praising Hurley and her son for brightening his life. "It’s just been beautiful," he said. "No expectations of where we go from here other than her and her son. I do love him a lot, and it’s great that God brought them into my life when he did. It’s just a good thing. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this happy."

The pair previously shared only a few scenes together in their film, but Cyrus said he immediately felt a spark. "We just laughed, and it was at a time I wasn't laughing a lot," he recalled. Despite their different backgrounds—him a Kentucky boy, her a British star—they discovered more similarities than differences.

Fast forward two years and a pandemic later, Hurley sent a message that Cyrus at first didn’t even recognize. The text simply offered support: "Hey, it looks like life might be a little bit tough and just wanted you to know I’m in your corner; you’ve got a friend in your corner." When Cyrus asked "Who is this?" and saw it was Hurley, he was floored. Sometimes, life hands you a plot twist worthy of a rom-com, and apparently, it texts first.

Cyrus said he would have been content if all they ever were was friends, but the relationship blossomed. He even compared Hurley’s wit and business savvy to Dolly Parton’s, saying, "If you can laugh together, you can make it through everything." Now, with a new song on the way and a new chapter started, Billy Ray Cyrus seems to have found something even sweeter than a country ballad.