Billy Ray Cyrus' Ex Firerose Marks Major Milestone Amid Divorce
Originally appeared on E! Online
It's a party in the U.S.A. for Firerose.
After all, the Australian singer obtained her American citizenship amid her divorce from Billy Ray Cyrus.
"This amazing country’s been my home for 17 years," Firerose wrote on Instagram July 18, sharing a video from her naturalization ceremony in Tennessee. "I couldn’t be more thrilled to become a US Citizen!"
The 36-year-old—whose legal name is Johanna Rose Hodges—had been in the process of getting her U.S. citizenship when Billy Ray, 63, filed paperwork in late May to end their marriage of seven months.
In court documents obtained by E! News, the "Achy Breaky Heart" artist accused Firerose, who he started dating in 2022, of "knowingly, willfully and intentionally" committing fraud by lying about her identity, alleging she previously told him that she had never been married.
However, when his legal team discovered that Hodges was not her maiden name—but rather the surname of her ex-husband—Billy Ray began seeking an annulment due to what he called "inappropriate marital conduct" from Firerose, per his filing.
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"He was hoping to save the Defendant from personal embarrassment and shame," Billy Ray's attorney noted in a June 17 amended complaint, explaining why the country music star did not specify his reason for split in the initial divorce papers.
"Furthermore, Plaintiff is aware that the Defendant has been attempting to obtain her U.S. Citizenship for several years," Billy Ray's legal team wrote, "and Plaintiff was concerned how it would impact her application for citizenship since she may have provided false information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service."
Billy Ray also accused Firerose of "conducting a campaign to isolate" him from his family—which includes kids Brandi Cyrus, 37, Trace Cyrus, 35, Miley Cyrus, 31, Braison Cyrus, 30, and Noah Cyrus, 24, with ex-wife Tish Cyrus—as well as verbal, emotional and physical abuse.
A rep for Firerose—who accused Billy Ray of abuse in a filing of her own—denied his allegations.
"His story keeps evolving and this filing is simply another abusive tactic to distract away from the serious, true allegations brought against him," her spokesperson told E! in a June 25 statement. "The only individuals supporting his false claims are those on his payroll, whose credibility is questionable."
Keep reading to untangle Billy Ray and Firerose's fiery relationship.
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 more information on domestic abuse or to get help for yourself or someone you love, visit the website for The National Domestic Violence Hotline (https://www.thehotline.org/) or call 1-800-799-7233.
