You probably know him as the guy with the legendary mullet or the protective dad on Hannah Montana. But if you're asking who is Miley Cyrus's father, the answer is a lot more layered than just a 90s country hit or a Disney Channel role. Honestly, Billy Ray Cyrus is a bit of a survivor in the industry. He’s managed to reinvent himself across four decades, which is basically a lifetime in Hollywood.
Whether you’re a Gen Z fan who found him through "Old Town Road" or a millennial who remembers the "Achy Breaky Heart" craze, Billy Ray is the anchor of the most famous family in country-pop. But lately, things have been... complicated.
The man behind the name: Billy Ray Cyrus
Basically, Billy Ray was born in Flatwoods, Kentucky, in 1961. He didn't just wake up famous. He spent years playing dive bars and living in his car before his debut album Some Gave All absolutely exploded in 1992. People forget how massive that record was. It sat at the top of the Billboard 200 for 17 weeks.
He didn't just give Miley her start; he gave her a blueprint. In a 2024 interview with David Letterman, Miley actually talked about this. She said she’s grateful for his "map." He showed her what to do—and maybe more importantly, what not to do—when the world is watching your every move.
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A family dynamic that’s anything but simple
The Cyrus family tree is pretty big. Billy Ray and his ex-wife, Tish Cyrus, were married for nearly 30 years before they finally called it quits in 2022. During that time, they raised five kids together: Miley, Braison, and Noah, plus Brandi and Trace, whom Billy Ray adopted. He also has a son, Christopher Cody, from a previous relationship.
For a long time, the public saw them as this unbreakable unit. Then, the divorce happened. It wasn't just a breakup; it felt like a family schism. For a while, there was major tension. Miley notably skipped mentioning her dad during her 2024 Grammy acceptance speech, which had everyone on the internet speculating about a massive feud.
Rebuilding the bridge in 2026
If you’ve been following the news recently, you've probably seen that things are finally on the upswing. Just this past January, reports surfaced that Miley and Billy Ray have officially "buried the hatchet."
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Music was the bridge, as it usually is with these two. Miley recently wrote a song called "Secrets" for her latest project Something Beautiful (Deluxe). She revealed that when she played it for her dad, he actually broke down in tears. It was a "peace offering," a way to say the things they couldn't quite get out in person.
Billy Ray's new chapter
At 64, Billy Ray isn't exactly slowing down. After a short-lived marriage to the singer Firerose that ended in a pretty messy legal battle, he seems to have found some actual stability.
Kinda surprisingly, he’s now dating British actress Elizabeth Hurley. They went Instagram official around Easter 2025 and have been spotted everywhere since, from the CMAs to New Year's Eve bashes in 2026. Miley has even gone on record saying she’s thrilled he’s found happiness again.
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What to take away from the Cyrus saga
Understanding who is Miley Cyrus's father means looking at him as an individual, not just a "parental pairing" with Tish. Miley herself said in 2025 that as she’s gotten older, she’s started respecting her parents as human beings who make mistakes, just like anyone else.
If you’re looking to understand the current state of the Cyrus family, keep these points in mind:
- Music is their love language: When they can't talk, they write songs. It worked for "Ready, Set, Don't Go" and it worked for "Secrets."
- The "Map" is real: Billy Ray provided the technical and professional foundation for Miley's career, even if their personal relationship hit a wall.
- Healing takes time: The "feud" lasted years, involving missed weddings and social media unfollows. It wasn't fixed overnight.
If you want to keep up with their journey, the best place is usually their music. Both are still actively recording, with Billy Ray even working on a new album produced by his son, Braison, set for release later this year. Watching them navigate fame as a family is a lesson in resilience, and honestly, it’s a lot more relatable than most celebrity stories.