Nobody had this on their 2025 bingo card. Seriously. When Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus hard-launched their romance on Easter Sunday in 2025, the internet basically had a collective meltdown. You’ve got the ultimate British glamour icon, known for Austin Powers and those legendary safety-pin dresses, cozying up to the "Achy Breaky Heart" king from Flatwoods, Kentucky. It felt like a fever dream or a weirdly specific AI-generated headline. But it’s very real.
And honestly? It’s kind of a sweet story once you get past the initial "Wait, them?" shock.
The Caribbean Spark You Didn’t See Coming
Most people think this started out of nowhere, but the seeds were planted way back in 2022. They were filming a Netflix movie called Christmas in Paradise in Nevis. If you haven't seen it, Elizabeth played Joanna Christmas and Billy Ray played a character named Jimmy Love. At the time, they were just co-stars. Billy Ray was actually going through his massive split from Tish Cyrus, his wife of nearly 30 years, right around then.
Elizabeth later admitted she was already a fan because her son, Damian Hurley, grew up watching Hannah Montana. She’d seen plenty of Billy Ray on her TV screen long before meeting him in the Caribbean sand.
They had chemistry. Billy Ray told Apple Music Country’s Ty Bentli that even though they didn't share a ton of scenes, the vibes were immediate. They laughed. A lot. But then, as Hollywood stories go, they just... lost touch. For two years.
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The Text Message That Changed Everything
Fast forward to late 2024. Billy Ray was in a rough spot. His marriage to Australian singer Firerose had imploded after only seven months, ending in a messy, public divorce. He described it as life "kicking him in the gut."
Out of the blue, he gets a text from an unknown number. It basically said, "I’m in your corner."
When he asked who it was, the reply came back: Elizabeth Hurley.
It’s the kind of move that makes you realize why she’s a legend. She saw a former friend struggling and reached out without any agenda. That friendship quickly turned into something more. By the time they posted that Easter photo—Billy Ray in green bunny ears, Elizabeth glowing beside him—they had already been dating quietly for a few months.
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Why It Actually Works (Despite the Odds)
On paper, they are opposites. She’s London high society; he’s Nashville grit. But they found common ground in the most relatable ways:
- Country Life: Billy Ray lives on a farm outside Nashville, and Elizabeth has her own country estate in Herefordshire.
- Family Ties: Blending families is usually a nightmare, but Damian Hurley and Miley Cyrus have already met. Billy Ray has even been seen hanging out with Damian at red-carpet events like the National Television Awards.
- Music: Billy Ray has been teaching her to play guitar. She says she’s "appalling" at it right now, but he apparently thinks she’s a natural.
The 2025 Red Carpet Takeover
Once they went public, they didn't hold back. We saw them in Rome for the Orizzonti | Rosso exhibition in May 2025. Elizabeth looked stunning in a bright pink gown, and Billy Ray stuck to his rocker roots with a cowboy hat and leather accents. Then came the CMA Awards in November 2025, where they showed up in coordinated outfits, looking like they’d been together for a decade.
There’s been some drama, of course. Tabloids love to dig up the past, and there were rumors that Billy Ray was "uneasy" about Elizabeth’s high-society history in London. But if their social media is any indication, they’re ignoring the noise.
They even spent Christmas 2025 together in matching onesies. If that isn't a sign of a serious celebrity relationship, I don't know what is.
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What’s Next for Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus?
As we move through 2026, the couple seems more settled than ever. Elizabeth just celebrated New Year’s with a massive James Bond-themed party where Billy Ray was right by her side (and her son's).
There’s even talk of a business venture. Rumors are swirling about a joint lifestyle line—think "his and hers" robes or even home goods. Elizabeth already has her successful swimwear line, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, so she knows the ropes. Billy Ray has dabbled in everything from marijuana brands to footwear, but a partnership with Elizabeth could be his biggest hit since "Old Town Road."
Basically, they’ve stopped being a "weird couple" and started being a "power couple."
Lessons from the Hurley-Cyrus Romance
If you're looking for a takeaway from this whirlwind, it's pretty simple:
- Don't burn bridges: That professional connection in 2022 became a lifeline in 2024.
- The "Check-In" Text works: Sometimes a simple message of support is all it takes to restart a connection.
- Opposites really do attract: You don't need to have the same background to have the same values.
To keep up with them, you should follow Elizabeth's Instagram for the glam shots and Billy Ray’s for the behind-the-scenes music clips. They tend to drop their biggest updates there first. If you're interested in their film chemistry, go back and watch Christmas in Paradise on Netflix; it’s a lot more interesting now that you know they were actually falling for each other.