Elizabeth Hurley has sent fans into a spin as she teased an unexpected new romance with singer Billy Ray Cyrus, with the real reason now revealed. The actress, 59, will be hoping she doesn’t end up with an achy breaky heart after sharing a kiss with the country music star.
Making their romance Instagram official, Liz beamed in a snap while Billy, 63, kissed her on the cheek. They cosied up against a wooden fence as Liz rocked a chequered blue flannel shirt, faded blue jeans and a straw cowboy hat.
Billy carried a large stick and was also wearing a blue denim short and striped trousers. He got into the Easter spirit as he donned a pair of bunny ears.
Fans were baffled by the post as there had been no previous hints of the budding romance between the unlikely stars. Liz’s son has shared his seal of approval as Damian Hurley simply sent two emojis – one party face and one love heart.
However, things aren’t so smooth in the Cyrus household as they have remained silent on the shock post with Billy reportedly having a strained relationship with his kids.
Despite fans being so surprised by the post they thought it was AI generated, there may have been signs many missed. The Austin Powers star has a long history of dating troubled men including Shane Warne and Hugh Grant.
Liz reportedly thinks she can “save” Billy following his years of personal woes, as the ‘real reason’ for their romance has been teased. Billy’s world has been rocked over the past year.
He has been wrapped up in a family feud, faced allegations of domestic abuse by his third wife Firerose that he denies and was mocked for performing at Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Liz and Billy met in 2022 as they played romantic leads in film Christmas in Paradise. According to reports, the pair reconnected last year as she provided support for Billy when his marriage crumbled.
The actress is said to have wanted to make sure there was “something special” before announcing her romance to the world. “There has always been a spark, but he reached out again last year when his short-lived third marriage ended,” a source told the Sun.
“He has had a really hard time, but she has been there helping him turn things around. Liz has been really great for him, but her friends are cautious because of what’s been said in the past about him.”
Liz believes Billy “has turned a corner and is a changed man,” according to the source.
However, Billy’s ex wife Tish Cyrus has claimed she long suspected that he cheated on her with Liz years ago. He “flat out” denied anything had ever happened at the time of them filming the Christmas movie together.
“They got very close on the set and seeing that they are together now is a slap in the face for Tish, but it also confirms that she was likely right about her suspicions,” a source told Daily Mail. “They never stopped being in contact.”
Billy split from ex-wife Firerose, 25, – real name Joanna Rosie Hodges almost a year ago. They got engaged in August 2022, before tying the knot in October 2023.
However, there was quickly trouble in paradise and just months later, in May 2024, he filed for a divorce. The process was finalised in August last year.
In February, Billy was thought to have extended an olive branch to daughter Miley Cyrus amid the public drama between the family. It’s thought that Miley has been estranged from Billy Ray for some time, while his son Trace Cyrus recently said he “barely recognises” his father following his support of Donald Trump.
Trace wrote on social media: “Sadly the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognize now. It seems this world has beaten you down and it’s become obvious to everyone but you. […] Me and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years but you’ve pushed all of us away.
“Noah desperately has wanted you to be a part of her life and you haven’t even been there for her. That’s your baby girl. She deserves better. Somehow just like me she still idolizes you though.”
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