Billy Ray Cyrus' Ex Firerose Speaks Out After Audio Release
Originally appeared on E! Online
Firerose is making her voice heard.
The estranged wife of Billy Ray Cyrus broke her silence after audio leaked of a man who sounds like the Hannah Montana alum yelling and insulting Firerose over an alleged disagreement about a performance.
"This week has been monumental in many way," she wrote on Instagram Stories July 26, "and I'm so appreciative and thankful for the outpouring of support."
The 35-year-old (real name Johanna Rosie Hodges) then went on to tag two Instagram accounts, @healing.after.a.narcissist and @covert_narcissist_info, adding, "There are so many great experts, books & resources on healing."
"I promise there's a light at the end of the tunnel," she continued. "Keep educating yourself."
Firerose and Billy Ray have been in a contentious battle since the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer filed for divorce in June after seven months of marriage, accusing her of fraud and inappropriate marital conduct in court documents obtained by E! News.
More from E! Online
Where RHOC's Gina Kirschenheiter Stands With Boyfriend Travis Mullen After He Moved Out of Her House
Ryan Reynolds Confirms Sex of His and Blake Lively’s 4th Baby
Following the release of the leaked audio, Billy Ray also took to social media to share his side of the story.
"Hell yeah I was at my wit's end," he wrote in an Instagram Story July 24. "As every day went by, I started realizing something was wrong."
The 62-year-old—who shares children Brandi Cyrus, 37, Trace Cyrus, 35, Miley Cyrus, 31, Braison Cyrus, 30, and Noah Cyrus, 24 with ex Tish Cyrus as well as son Christopher Cody Cyrus, 32, with ex Kristin Luckey—once again leveraged several accusations at Firerose.
Cyrus said he "knew something wasn't right" in their relationship even before he learned that she allegedly lied about having been married before.
"I saw before my very own eyes," Billy Ray alleged. "Everything I thought I knew about her was a lie. She was trying to take over my career, my life and usurp the Cyrus name for her own gain. See you in court."
Lawyers for Billy Ray also released a statement on his behalf to E! News July 24, alleging that Firerose "made the recording without telling Mr. Cyrus that she was recording him."
"Unfortunately, Ms. Hodges is attempting to litigate her case in the press for her own personal gain," the statement detailed, "and in an attempt to harm our client's longstanding career, as she promised she would do if he tried to divorce her, which Mr. Cyrus alleged in a previous court filing."
As for Firerose, she has previously denied allegations of wrongdoing.
"[Billy Ray's] story keeps evolving and this filing is simply another abusive tactic to distract away from the serious, true allegations brought against him," a rep for Firerose told E! News in a June 25 statement. "The only individuals supporting his false claims are those on his payroll, whose credibility is questionable."
For more about Billy Ray and Firerose's relationship, keep reading.
2010
Billy Ray Cyrus' first encounter with Firerose came when he was taking a break with his dog on the set of Hannah Montana, the hit Disney Channel series he starred on with his daughter Miley Cyrus from 2006 until 2011.
"On that given day, Firerose came out of the front door," the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer told People. "There was almost a moment of, I don't know, recognition. I was like, 'This girl's a star.'"
While Cyrus had no idea who Firerose, then 22, was at the time, his future fiancé definitely knew who he was. "Growing up in Australia, my love of music was predominant over everything," she said. "I've known his music since forever."
There for an audition, Cyrus offered to introduce Firerose to the Hannah Montana crew and invited her to watch the show's rehearsal.
"She met a lot of the cast and met the producers, writers," he said. "And, in some ways, well, in a lot of ways, we became friends."
2020
While the duo stayed in touch—"Our friendship was so solid over the years," Firerose told People—their bond grew when they became songwriting partners during the pandemic.
"She plays all of her own instruments and writes her own songs," Cyrus explained. "We began sharing music, and it just evolved."
July 2021
Cyrus and Firerose released their first song together "New Day," which they collaborated on amid Cyrus' private marital strife. Tish Cyrus filed for divorce for a second time in April 2022, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split and noting they hadn't lived together since February 2020.
"Billy confided in me a lot of what was going on in his life," Firerose explained. "I was just the best friend I could possibly be, supporting him."
April 2022
After finalizing his divorce with Tish and "a lot prayer," Cyrus was ready to move on and asked Firerose to be more than friends.
"When we began sharing the music, it just evolved more into, as musical soulmates, to soulmates, happy, pure love that to me, I didn't know could exist," Cyrus said. "Again, we're musicians, first and foremost, both of us. And we found this harmony, and this rhythm, this melody to life."
Soon after they began dating, Firerose moved to Cyrus' Franklin, Tenn., farm.
August 2022
Cyrus officially confirmed his relationship with Firerose when he posted the first selfie of the couple on his Instagram page.
"Wishing everyone a brilliant time at the @vmas tonight!" he captioned the pic. "Music changes everything."
Firerose also shared the photo on her page, using it to pay tribute to her boyfriend. "The world is a better place with you in it," she wrote on Aug. 25. "Happy Birthday Billy."
October 2022
The pair celebrated the fall season with a cozy snap in front of a tree with orange and red leaves, but all eyes were on the diamond ring on Firerose's finger, fueling speculation that the couple was engaged.
November 2022
The couple released their second collaboration "Time," with Cyrus describing the tune as a "reckoning."
"I've spent my life worried about things that are beyond my control," he told People. "But at this spot in my life, [I know] that all you really have is the happiness that you feel inside your mind and your heart."
November 2022
After months of speculation, Cyrus' rep confirmed to E! News that he was engaged to Firerose.
"Together imagine magic everyday," Cyrus captioned a Nov. 22 selfie of the couple. "…that's what love is."
Firerose later detailed Cyrus' proposal, which happened in August at their Tennessee home.
"Billy looked at me and said, 'Do you, do you wanna marry me?' And I was just like, 'Of course I do. I love you,'" she recalled. "He said, 'I love you. I wanna make this official. I wanna be with you forever.' "
December 2022
The singers were "dreaming of a white Christmas" while celebrating the holidays together. To commemorate the season, the couple teamed up for a cover of "Silent Night."
February 2023
While Cyrus captioned this snap "Sunsets were made for this," he and Firerose only had eyes for each other.
June 2023
Despite reports of tension with his children following his divorce, Cyrus posted a photo with Firerose and his daughter Noah Cyrus after she announced her engagement to Pinkus.
As for how Miley Cyrus feels about her father's romance with Firerose, a source close to the "Wrecking Ball" singer previously told E! News, "The divorce between her parents have put a strain on her relationship with her dad and it's been hard to connect with him in the last year. She hopes they can eventually work on their relationship."
The insider added that while Miley "doesn't have a relationship" with Firerose, "she, of course, hopes [Billy Ray] is happy."
August 2023
The engaged couple teamed up with songwriter Diane Warren for the romantic ballad "Plans," which Cyrus described as "the story of our lives" on Instagram.
The tune finds Cyrus and Firerose singing "Have you got plans for forever?" together in the chorus, with the music video featuring the pair in wedding attire.
August 2023
The crooning couple made their official red carpet debut at the 16th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors on Aug. 23, in Nashville. After posing for photos, Cyrus and Firerose took the stage together to perform with Travis Denning during the show.
October 2023
Billy Ray and Firerose confirmed they tied the knot in October 2023 by sharing photos from their wedding day.
"10/10/23 will always be the beautiful, joyous day that our two souls united as one in holy matrimony," they wrote on Instagram. "It was the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined.For both of us to hear the preacher say, 'Billy Ray and Firerose Cyrus… I now pronounce you husband and wife' that was the sacred moment our new forever began. Long Live Love!"
May 2024
Seven months later, Billy Ray officially filed for divorce from Firerose.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
