The former couple, who share five children, were married for 29 years.

Tish Cyrus reveals hardest part of Billy Ray Cyrus divorce: ‘I was devastated’

The former couple, who share five children, were married for 29 years.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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May 7, 2026 3:12 p.m. ET

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Tish Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus in 2019. Credit:

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

- Tish Cyrus is looking back on the shock of her split from her ex-husband Billy Ray Cyrus.

- The mother of Miley Cyrus said she was "devastated" after filing for divorce from the country singer in 2022.

- The former couple were married for 29 years.

Tish Cyrus is looking back on her shocking split from her ex husband Billy Ray Cyrus.

She was married to the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer for 29 years and they raised five children — including Disney breakout and Grammy-winning pop star Miley Cyrus — which is why, she said recently, it was so hard for her to accept that their relationship had come to an end.

"I didn't ever really think I would get a divorce. That was not in the cards at all for me," Tish, 58, told Chelsea Handler on the latest episode of the comedian's *Dear Chelsea* podcast. "I was devastated. I'd been married for so long… I didn't know anything different."

Tish, who filed for divorce from Billy Ray, 64, in 2022, said she was in "shock mode" after their breakup. By that point, the couple had already endured their fair share of ups and downs. The country singer previously filed for divorce in 2010 but eventually withdrew his petition. Three years later, Tish filed for divorce, but the couple worked things out again.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus in 2009.

Kevin Mazur/TCA 2009/WireImage

As for how she felt when they finally cemented their split, Tish told Handler, "I don't know where I was at," before adding with a laugh, "Honestly, I was stoned."

Later on the podcast, a divorced listener asked for guidance on how to get their "heart out of the way" when it comes to an ex. Tish was quick to jump in, revealing that it was one of the biggest challenges for her when she was finalizing her separation from Billy Ray.

"It was really having to really make my brain focus on how things had gotten, how things were, instead of how they should be or could be," Tish said. "I don't know how you take the emotion out of it, or how you change how you feel. I think you can look at things in that way of, like, how it could have been … the fantasy, when what is your reality? That was the hardest part for me."

She added, "It's so hard to believe when you're in it that things can get better, that there is someone else for you out there. I think when you get grounded in reality of what it is, then you actually can move forward and bring great things into your life."

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Tish — who shares Brandi, 38; Trace, 37; Miley, 33; Braison, 31; and Noah, 26 with Billy Ray — is now married to actor Dominic Purcell.

During her appearance on *Dear Chelsea*, Tish recalled that it was after her split from Billy Ray that a friend encouraged her to chase her "dream guy," prompting her to message Purcell on social media. They had their first date the very next day, and after a year and a half together, they tied the knot in August 2023.

Tish Cyrus and Dominic Purcell.

Amy Sussman/Getty

Discussing what makes their relationship work so well, Tish noted how much her husband comforts her. "If I am feeling any way, I will just go to Dom and say, 'I'm feeling sad, I need a cuddle,'" she said. "I've never gotten anything from him but love when there's anything in my world that's wrong or I'm feeling a certain way."

She continued, "I used to be so scared to voice those things. I felt like I just needed to be so strong because I really kinda did run everything — like our entire family. Everything really did fall on me to handle. And I feel like this is the first time I've actually felt like I have a partner. That's taken a lot to get used to."

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Billy Ray ended up moving on as well. He and fellow country singer Firerose took their relationship public in 2022, months after his split from Tish, and tied the knot in October 2023. However, they ultimately went their separate ways just a few months later, settling their contentious divorce in August 2024.

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