Billy Ray Cyrus, Firerose accuse each other of abuse amid contentious divorce
Billy Ray Cyrus and his estranged wife Firerose are accusing each other of alleged abuse following their divorce after only seven months of marriage.
In a June 24 court filing in Tennessee's Williamson County Chancery Court, which was obtained by USA TODAY, Cyrus responded to Firerose's June 14 counter-complaint by claiming the marriage was "induced by fraud."
In the case, Firerose, 36, is referred to by the name Johanna Rosie Hodges.
The singer, 62, claims Firerose's "allegations of abuse were only made to sensationalize her false complaints by using the word 'abuse.'"
Cyrus adds that while he "would acknowledge that he was certainly vocal, frustrated and angry with the Defendant (Firerose) in May 2024, it is the Plaintiff (Cyrus) who, in fact, has been abused." He claims he was "not only verbally and emotionally" abused by Firerose "but also physically abused" by her.
Firerose had claimed in her divorce counter-complaint that she was "the victim of extreme verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse" from Cyrus.
"Wife was subjected to Husband’s persistent drug use accompanied with the consumption of marijuana which made Husband unpredictable and volatile towards Wife," the filing read.
Reps for Cyrus declined to comment. USA TODAY has reached out to Firerose's attorneys for comment.
Billy Ray Cyrus claims Firerose was 'hiding' information 'to induce marriage'
On May 23, Cyrus, who is Miley Cyrus' father, filed to divorce Firerose. In his filing for a divorce and an annulment of their marriage, which was obtained by USA TODAY, Cyrus cited irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct as the reasons for seeking divorce. He also responded to the "grounds for annulment" with "consent to marriage was obtained by fraud."
Their date of separation was May 22, per the complaint.
Firerose's June 14 filing says she "denies she has procured the marriage based on fraud ... and Wife further denies that she is guilty of inappropriate marital conduct, and strict proof is demanded thereof."
In his June 24 filing, the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer claimed to have left their home after discovering in May that Hodges was not his wife's maiden name. He alleges the Australian musician "had lied" about her name "to induce marriage" and that there are "additional things in her background she is hiding from him."
On July 25, Cyrus said in an Instagram Story that Firerose had previously been married to producer and songwriter David Hodges.
Billy Ray Cyrus at 'wit's end' amid leaked audio berating Firerose, ex-wife Tish
Cyrus, Firerose debate details of her double mastectomy
In her June 14 counter-complaint, Firerose alleged Cyrus had promised to pay for the procedure but "ambushed" her with divorce papers the day before her planned double mastectomy on May 24. She said due to being forced out of the home, she was "forced" to delay the preventive procedure.
She said that in 2020, she found out she was a carrier of the BRCA1 gene mutation.
Cyrus responded in his filing that he did not know about this aspect of her health history until after they were married and asserted that while she had a doctor's appointment scheduled for May 24, her surgery was not until June 6. He denied offering to pay for uncovered expenses related to the procedure, alleging Firerose said there would be no out-of-pocket costs.
Throwback to the wedding: Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose had an 'ethereal celebration'
He also says Firerose threatened that if he tried to divorce her she would "tell everyone that you did it because of the double mastectomy and your career will be over."
In April 2022, ex-wife Tish Cyrus-Purcell filed to divorce Billy Ray Cyrus, citing irreconcilable differences.
They share children Braison, Noah and Miley Cyrus as well as Trace and Brandi Cyrus, Tish's children from a prior relationship. Billy Ray Cyrus also has a 32-year-old son, Christopher Cody, with ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey.
Contributing: Edward Segarra
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Billy Ray Cyrus, Firerose divorce: Singers accuse each other of abuse