Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus left tongues wagging when they announced their new romance, but their connection can be dated back over two years ago.
The Achy Breaky Heart crooner, 63, who finalised his divorce from Firerose in August 2024, went official with the model on Easter Sunday with a romantic Instagram post.
But their ‘chemistry’ was initially sparked during the film of their 2022 festive flick, Christmas In Paradise, after he revealed he felt a connection while filming.
While filming the scenes, Billy was dating his latest ex-wife Australian singer Firerose and going through a divorce with his wife of 28 years, Tish.
The film sees Elizabeth, 59, play Joanna, who sees her father, played by Kelsey Grammer, flock to the Caribbean after being diagnosed with camcer.
And during his time on the Island, Billy, who takes on the supporting character Jimmy Love, forms a budding friendship with the ill-stricken father and his daughters.
Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus left tongues wagging when they announced their new romance, but their connection can be dated back over two years ago
The Achy Breaky Heart crooner, 63, who finalised his divorce from Firerose in August 2024, went official with the model (pictured in the film) on Easter Sunday with an Instagram post
Billy filmed scenes for the flick while he was dating Firerose – born Johanna Rose Hodges- after they sparked their romance in August 2022 – four months after splitting from his ex-wife, Tish.
In the film, Elizabeth looks smitten during one of their very first scenes as he sings Time – a song produced by him and, now, his ex-wife, Firerose.
The country singer serenaded Elizabeth and fellow stars with the duet released in November 2022.
In the film, which was released in December 2022, Elizabeth can be seen lounging across a couch, staring up at Billy as he strummed away in front of a burning fire.
The model can be seen longingly looking up to Billy as she lay across a couch in a figure-hugging red dress.
Elizabeth and Billy do not share any romantic scenes together throughout the festive flick, but they do have moments of eye contact and heartfelt conversations.
It has not been confirmed exactly when Billy and Elizabeth first sparked their love interest, but he has revealed when she reached out to him and that they did have chemistry on the set of the film.
Last month, Billy broke his silence over his new relationship while appearing on Apple Music Country’s The Ty Bentli Show and revealed she reached out during a difficult period in his life.
But their ‘chemistry’ was initially sparked during the film of their 2022 festive flick, Christmas In Paradise, after he revealed he felt a connection while filming
While filming the scenes, Billy (pictured) was dating his latest ex-wife Australian singer Firerose and going through a divorce with his wife of 28 years, Tish
The film sees Elizabeth, 59, play Joanna, who sees her father, played by Kelsey Grammer, flock to the Caribbean after being diagnosed with cancer
And during his time on the Island, Billy, who takes on the supporting character Jimmy Love, forms a budding friendship with the ill-stricken father (left: Kelsey Grammer) and his daughters
Billy filmed scenes for the flick while he was dating Firerose – born Johanna Rose Hodges- after they sparked their romance in August 2022 – four months after splitting from his ex-wife, Tish (pictured in 2019)
In the film, Elizabeth looks smitten during one of their very first scenes as he sings Time – a song produced by him and, now, his ex-wife, Firerose
‘I felt like, ‘Wow, can life get any harder? Can it get any tougher?’ For me, at a certain point it was like, you can’t get knocked down any flatter than laying on your back when life is kicking you,’ he said.
‘And in this moment, a friend reached out.’
According to Billy, Elizabeth’s message read something along the lines of: ‘Hey, it looks like life might be a little bit tough and just wanted you to know I’m in your corner; you’ve got a friend in your corner.’
Upon getting her text, the father-of-five admitted he ‘didn’t even know the number.’
‘So, I text back, I go, “Who is this?” And it’s like, “Elizabeth Hurley.” Of all the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most, this friend who made me laugh,’ he said.
Although they hadn’t spoken in ‘two years’, shortly after wrapping their 2022 holiday film, Billy instantly remembered ‘there was a chemistry’ between them on set during their ‘very few scenes together.’
‘We just laughed, and it was at a time I wasn’t laughing a lot,’ he noted. ‘The oddest part was first, how much we laughed.
‘Second, I figured we were so different but in some very strange way we had way more in common than we had different.’
Christmas in Paradise was shot in the Caribbean, not long after he separated from his ex-wife Tish in April 2022 after 28 years of marriage.
Billy and Firerose struck up a friendship, and grew even closer when they collaborated on a song together in early 2021, called New Day – while he was still married to Tish.
But in April 2022, Tish filed for divorce from the musician after more than 30 years together.
In the divorce papers, they revealed that they hadn’t lived together in two years, and afterwards, Billy insisted that ‘everyone knew the relationship was over a long time ago’ in an interview.
Just three months after news hit the web that his marriage to Tish had ended, Billy reunited with Firerose to sing their song at Grand Ole Opry.
And after the performance, Firerose shared a slew of images that showed her cozying up to Billy Ray backstage, sparking romance rumors.
Billy Ray and Tish’s divorce seemed to rip the entire Cyrus family apart – with some of their five kids taking his side and others taking hers.
In the film, which was released in December 2022, Elizabeth can be seen lounging across a couch, staring up at Billy as he strummed away in front of a burning fire
The model can be seen longingly looking up to Billy as she lay across a couch in a figure-hugging red dress
Elizabeth and Billy do not share any romantic scenes together throughout the festive flick, but they do have moments of eye contact and heartfelt conversations
It has not been confirmed exactly when Billy and Elizabeth first sparked their love interest, but he has revealed when she reached out to him and that they did have chemistry on set
One month after the split, a source told The Sun that Miley was ‘no longer on speaking terms’ with her father.
And the rumored rift only seemed to worsen as his romance with Firerose strengthened.
Billy and Firerose announced their engagement in August 2022 and went on to exchange vows at their farm in October 2023.
However, in June 2024, news hit the web that the couple were going their separate ways after only seven months of marriage.
After the split between, he insisted she move out of the home they shared in Nashville, Tennessee by May 24, and that he was willing to pay as much as $500-a-night over the course of 10 days for her lodging costs.
After the 10-day period, he was willing to pay $5,000 a month for her to acquire a suitable new home in Tennessee.
Billy is prepared to make the payments over the course of 90 days or once their divorce is officially finalized, whichever happens first, TMZ reported. The payments must be made on the first of the month.
And since he sparked a relationship with Elizabeth and he and the model have been spending time at his Nashville farm, as they both enjoy ‘the low-key, nature-loving lifestyle.’
The pair have ‘just been enjoying life together and wanted to make it public. They have nothing to hide and are very happy.’
Their relationship shocked fans, coming just months after Billy’s whirlwind divorce, following a dramatic break-up that played out both publicly and privately.
Reports have claimed now Billy is a changed man but her friends are cautious because of her past.
A source told the Sun: ‘Liz has been really great for him, but her friends are cautious because of what’s been said in the past about him.
She insists he has turned a corner and is a changed man.’
They went on to reveal that the Bedazzled star has been helping Billy Ray by urging him to take steps to fix his relationship with his estranged children.
Pop star Miley Cyrus and her father have had a strained relationship over the years, as have several of her siblings, including sister Noah, 25.
The insider said: ‘Liz has been encouraging [Billy Ray] to mend his fractured relationship with his daughter Miley, as well as his other children. Her closeness with Damian is inspiring.’
Billy Ray reportedly hid his new relationship with Elizabeth from his superstar daughter Miley, with sources claiming the singer, 32, ‘won’t be happy’ about their romance.
An insider has come forward to allege three-time Grammy winner Miley had no idea they were even together.
Their relationship shocked fans, coming just months after Billy’s whirlwind divorce from singer Firerose in August (pictured in 2023)
‘Of course Miley didn’t know,’ a source told New Idea just hours after their Easter debut.
‘She stays away from her dad as much as possible. She won’t be happy about this. She’s about to launch an album and a movie and this is going to overshadow it all!’
A source previously told DailyMail.com that Billy became ‘a recluse’ since his split from Firerose because he ‘truly believed’ she was ‘the one.’
‘Since [their divorce], Billy has shut a lot of people out because he really trusts no one,’ they added.
