Time is a funny thing in Nashville. One minute you're the guy with the world's most famous mullet, and the next, you're a 64-year-old grandfather navigating a family dynamic that looks more like a prestige TV drama than a country song. People keep asking, how old is Billy Ray Cyrus, and the answer is simple but the context is anything but.
Born on August 25, 1961, Billy Ray Cyrus is currently 64 years old.
He’s lived several lives in those six decades. There was the "Achy Breaky Heart" explosion in the 90s, the Hannah Montana era where he played the world's favorite TV dad, and then that bizarre, brilliant moment where he hopped on a Lil Nas X track and reminded everyone he’s a master of the pivot. But being 64 in 2026 isn't just about the numbers on a birth certificate. It’s about the heavy lifting of a legacy that’s currently feeling a bit fractured.
The Reality of Being 64 in the Public Eye
Honestly, Billy Ray doesn't look like your typical mid-60s guy. He’s still got the hair, the grit, and that Kentucky rasp. But the last few years have been a gauntlet. After his 28-year marriage to Tish Cyrus ended, things got messy. We saw a whirlwind marriage to the Australian singer Firerose that lasted about as long as a summer tour—seven months, to be exact—ending in a pretty scorched-earth divorce in late 2024.
Now, in 2026, he seems to be finding a different kind of rhythm. He’s been dating Elizabeth Hurley since April 2025. Yeah, that Elizabeth Hurley. It was the pairing no one saw coming, but they’ve been all over the red carpets lately, looking surprisingly stable. They presented together at the 2025 CMA Awards, and word is he’s even teaching her how to play guitar.
But it’s not all red carpets and new romance.
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Why the Age Conversation is Topped with Drama
When you're 64 and your kids are superstars, your age becomes a marker for family milestones—and sometimes, family distance. There’s no point in sugarcoating it: the rift with Miley is the elephant in the room. While Billy Ray has been vocal about wanting to mend things, Miley has been notably silent. At the 2024 Grammys, she famously thanked her mom and her sister Brandi but left "Dad" out of the speech entirely.
That hurts. It doesn't matter if you're a global icon or a guy working a 9-to-5; when you hit your 60s, you start thinking about the "forever" stuff. Sources close to the singer say he’s "heartbroken" and trying everything to get her back on the phone. He’s even allegedly asked his other kids, Noah and Braison, to help bridge the gap.
Billy Ray Cyrus Age and Career: The 2026 Comeback
Most people his age are eyeing retirement or at least slowing down. Not Billy Ray. He’s actually leaning into the family business in a way that feels more authentic than the Disney years.
- The Braison Collaboration: He’s been working closely with his son, Braison Cyrus. They dropped a new album in the summer of 2025 that Braison actually produced. It’s a more stripped-back, "SnakeDoctor" style sound.
- The "Old Town Road" Legacy: He still holds the record for one of the longest-running Number 1 hits in history. That royalty check alone probably keeps the lights on, but he seems more interested in the craft lately.
- The Live Circuit: He’s still performing. He hit the Grand Ole Opry recently with Braison, proving that even at 64, he can still hold a room.
There’s been some worry, though. His son Trace Cyrus went public with some pretty heavy concerns about Billy Ray's health after a performance at the 2025 inauguration. Trace basically said the man the world sees isn't the "healthy" dad they used to know. It’s a reminder that beneath the celebrity veneer, there are real, human struggles with aging and perhaps the toll of forty years in the spotlight.
The Cyrus Family Tree (By the Numbers)
To understand where Billy Ray stands today, you have to look at the ages of the people he’s raised. It’s a massive crew.
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- Brandi Cyrus (38): The eldest, a DJ and equestrian who has stayed relatively neutral in the family drama.
- Trace Cyrus (36): The most outspoken lately, often sharing his fears about his father’s well-being.
- Christopher Cody (33): The son from his brief relationship with Kristin Luckey, who has mostly stayed out of the Hollywood lens.
- Miley Cyrus (33): The superstar. The one he’s most desperate to reconnect with.
- Braison Cyrus (31): The creative partner who seems to be his father’s closest ally right now.
- Noah Cyrus (26): The youngest, who has carved out her own indie-folk niche and has had her own ups and downs with the family dynamic.
Being the patriarch of that many high-achieving, public-facing adults is a lot of pressure for a 64-year-old.
What People Get Wrong About Him
People think he’s just a "fame chaser" or someone who rode his daughter’s coattails. That’s actually a pretty shallow take. Billy Ray was a multi-platinum artist before Miley was even born. Some Gave All wasn't just a hit; it was a cultural phenomenon that stayed at number one for 17 weeks.
He’s a songwriter at heart. If you listen to his deep cuts, the guy knows how to tell a story. The tragedy of his current age is that his personal story is currently more "Lonesome Dove" than "Achy Breaky Heart."
The Road Ahead for Billy Ray
What does a 64-year-old country legend do next?
Honestly, it looks like he’s trying to simplify. The move toward working with Braison suggests he’s tired of the "pop" machine. His relationship with Elizabeth Hurley seems to offer a bit of a sanctuary away from the Nashville gossip mill. But the real work for Billy Ray in 2026 isn't going to happen in a recording studio or on a stage. It’s going to happen in living rooms and over difficult phone calls.
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He’s at an age where legacy becomes more important than fame. Whether he can heal the rift with Miley remains the biggest question mark of his 60s. For now, he’s healthy, he’s recording, and he’s still very much a part of the cultural conversation.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers:
- Listen to the 2025 Album: If you want to hear the real Billy Ray, skip the remixes and listen to the project he did with Braison. It’s the most honest he’s sounded in years.
- Follow the Opry Schedules: He’s been making surprise appearances in Nashville. If you want to see him live, that’s your best bet.
- Respect the Privacy: While the family drama is public, the health concerns raised by Trace suggest that sometimes, the best way to support an artist is to let them handle their private life away from the comment sections.
Billy Ray Cyrus is 64, but in the world of country music, that’s just getting started on your "elder statesman" phase. He’s got plenty of songs left in him; let's just hope he gets to share them with his whole family soon.
Next Steps to Stay Updated:
- Check the official Grand Ole Opry calendar for unannounced "special guest" slots, as Billy Ray frequently performs with his son Braison there.
- Follow Elizabeth Hurley’s social media for the most consistent updates on his day-to-day life, as he has become a frequent fixture in her posts.
- Look for the vinyl release of the 2025 "Cyrus & Son" project, which includes acoustic B-sides not available on streaming platforms.