Billy Ray Cyrus Shares Near-Fatal Sepsis Battle Led to Vocal Paralysis

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Billy Ray Cyrus is grateful for his current chapter.

His upcoming album, The Hill, and his relationship with Elizabeth Hurley were both at risk for a while.

The 64-year-old recently shared that he almost died from sepsis in 2024. He described his recovery in an interview with People magazine on June 10th as a “miracle.”

The experience wasn’t just life-threatening; after he recovered, he temporarily lost his voice, which was frightening.

When Billy Ray was going through a difficult time, he found unexpected support within his large family. It was actually his grandson, Bear—the 5-year-old son of Billy Ray and his ex-wife Tish Cyrus’s son Braison—who gave him hope and helped him find a path forward.

He remembered a particularly difficult time in his life when his young grandson, Bear, unexpectedly said, ‘Try again.’ It was the first time Bear had ever spoken to him, and he wasn’t even sure his grandson knew who he was.

He explained that in that instant, he realized someone was trying to communicate something important. He wondered if it had to do with love or music—things he felt he had a second chance at. He’s now focused on embracing new opportunities and learning from the past.

Since his hit song “Achy Breaky Heart,” Billy Ray Cyrus has successfully returned to both music and acting. His new album, The Hill, releases on June 16th, and he and his wife, Elizabeth, are still happily together after publicly confirming their relationship in April 2025.

Recently, Billy Ray Cyrus has improved his relationships with his six children: Braison, Christopher Cody Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Noah Cyrus, Brandi Cyrus, and Trace Cyrus. Trace and Brandi were adopted when he married Tish, and his connections with all his children have become more relaxed.

“Life is a series of adjustments, and I think my family always knew that,” Billy Ray said of his reconciliations. “We’ve all been through a lot, and we’ve seen a lot. Whatever happened is in the rearview mirror. The past is over and done. The future is what we have, and we got to look forward.”

He continued, “All these years later it’s going back to our roots as a family. And to be in this moment with them, it’s just a great celebration of our family.”

And even Billy Ray—whose third marriage to singer Firerose (real name Johanna Rosie Scholem) ended contentiously in 2024—is marveling at the place he finds himself now. 

He explained to People magazine that he’d been out of work for a while. Then, he had a realization: ‘Cyrus, you’re working now,’ he told himself. ‘Be careful what you wish for. You wanted to be busy? Here it is.’

He expressed complete contentment, saying he couldn’t ask for anything more and was truly happy with his current situation. He’d finally found a place where he felt at peace.

For more insight into Billy Ray’s family life, read on. 

Billy Ray Cyrus married Tish Cyrus (née Leticia Finley) on Dec. 28, 2003.

They already had a daughter, Destiny Hope Cyrus (who later became known as Miley Cyrus), and Tish was expecting their son, Braison Cyrus, who was born on May 9, 1994.

Seven months before Miley was born on Nov. 23, 1992, Billy Ray’s ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey gave birth to their son Christopher Cody Cyrus on April 8.

When Billy Ray Cyrus married Tish, he became a father to her children from a previous marriage: Brandi Cyrus (born May 26, 1987) and Trace Cyrus (born February 24, 1989). Their biological father is Tish’s former husband, Baxter Helson.

Tish and Billy Ray’s youngest, daughter Noah Cyrus, was born Jan. 8, 2000.

From 2006 to 2010, Billy Ray Cyrus played the father of Miley Stewart—the character who lived a double life as a regular teen and a pop star—in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana and a related movie released in 2009.

When the Cyrus family lived in Nashville, Billy Ray and Miley relocated to Los Angeles to help launch Miley’s career in entertainment.

Billy Ray and Tish announced their divorce in October 2010, but they reconciled and were back together by the next year.

They filed for divorce again in June 2013 but reconsidered barely a month later, telling TopMob News at the time that they’d been to couple’s counseling and it had done wonders for them.

Before Miley and her father patched things up, news came out that he had filed for divorce after 19 years of marriage. Miley responded on Twitter, publicly asking her dad, “@billyraycyrus, since you’re not responding to my texts or emails, would you be willing to talk this way?”

Miley and Liam Hemsworth first met on the set of the 2010 film The Last Song and had an on-again, off-again relationship for about ten years. They eventually married in December 2018, shortly after a fire destroyed their house in Malibu.

Miley explained on her TikTok series, “Used to Be Young,” that the decision was made while she was still healing from a difficult experience and focused on moving forward quickly.

But Liam filed for divorce in August 2019 and they finalized the paperwork in January 2020.

“It’s honestly very simple,” a source told TopMob at the time. “They fell in love when they were young and they are just different people now.”

Braison and his wife Stella Cyrus welcomed son Bear Chance Cyrus on June 8, 2021. 

Tish filed for divorce fo a third time in April 2022, and this time it stuck.

She filed for divorce, stating that she and her husband, who she’d been married to for nearly 30 years, had been living separately since February 2020.

After 30 years together, five children, and a lifetime of wonderful memories, Tish and Billy Ray have announced they are separating. They shared in a statement to People magazine that they are choosing to move forward with love and happiness, having built a family they are incredibly proud of, and now feel it’s time to pursue individual journeys.

The former couple emphasized that their decision to separate wasn’t made easily or hastily. They shared that they’ll always consider each other family and hope to continue sharing a loving relationship as friends and co-parents.

Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose, who is 27 years younger than him, became engaged in August 2022, but they didn’t publicly announce it until November of that year.

Firerose told People magazine that music was her biggest passion growing up in Australia. She also said she’s been a fan of his music for as long as she can remember.

What started as a friendship turned into more during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Billy Ray described how his life as a touring musician abruptly changed. It was a period of huge transition, and during that time, Firerose became a bright spot in his life – a close friend. As they started making music together, their connection deepened from a musical partnership into a loving relationship. He said he never knew such pure happiness and love were possible.

Shortly after her ex-husband announced his engagement in November 2022, Tish publicly revealed her relationship with Dominic Purcell, known for his role in Prison Break.

They got engaged in April 2023 and tied the knot that August in Malibu at sunset with Miley, Trace and Brandi all standing by their mom’s side.

Trace shared a photo with his siblings and the bride, writing that life is constantly changing and full of surprises. He believes it’s important to appreciate good memories, be optimistic about what’s to come, and focus on enjoying the present, as that’s all we truly have.

Miley shared with Vogue how deeply moved she is to see her mother so happy and in love. She described the relationship between her mom and Dom as a truly sweet and authentic connection, feeling like a first love – which Miley feels perfectly suits her mother’s youthful spirit.

As for her dad’s next chapter, however, a source close to Miley told TopMob News in October 2022 that she wasn’t in love with it and didn’t have a relationship with her future stepmom.

A source said the divorce has made it difficult for her to connect with her father, especially over the past year. She’s hoping they can repair their relationship eventually.

In November, Billy Ray told People magazine that his family was supportive of his engagement and didn’t hold any resentment about it.

He said people were ready to move on. It had been a difficult time, but everyone agreed it was time for something new.

He and Firerose were married on October 10, 2023, describing their wedding day as a beautiful and joyful celebration of their love and commitment.

It seemed like Miley Cyrus and her father still hadn’t resolved their differences as of the night of the 2024 Grammys on February 4th.

Tish, Brandi, and Miley’s boyfriend, Maxx Morando, were all present when Miley won Record of the Year, and she acknowledged them in her acceptance speech.

As Miley concluded her speech, “I don’t think I forgot anyone.”

There’s been no official confirmation or denial regarding rumors that Noah was involved with Dominic before his ex-wife, Tish. However, the singer responded strongly to an Instagram user in April 2024 who made a suggestive and disrespectful comment about both Noah and Tish having a relationship with the actor.

“I’m so sorry but will you pleeeeeass just choke on the fattest c–k,” Noah wrote in response. “Just for a lil bit. Great thanks.”

Barely eight months after they tied the knot, Billy Ray filed to annul the union, alleging in court documents the marriage was “obtained by fraud.”

He listed May 22, 2024, as their date of separation.

However, Billy Ray amended his plan and filed for divorce, which was settled that August.

Billy Ray described the situation as an unbelievable scam in a statement to TopMob News. He added that he’s personally been a main target, and he’s disappointed things unfolded as they did.

“Since my earliest memories all I can remember is being obsessed with you and thinking you were the coolest person ever,” Trace began a Jan. 22, 2025, Instagram post directed at his father. “I wanted to be just like you. The day you adopted me was the happiest day of my life. Sadly the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognize now.”

He said he and his sisters had been worried about him for years, but he’d always kept them at a distance.

Noah was especially hurt, according to Trace.

He wrote that Noah has always wished you were involved in her life, but you haven’t been there for her. He emphasized that she’s your daughter and deserves better. Despite everything, she still looks up to you, just like he does. They’re all holding onto happy memories of who you used to be and hoping you’ll be that person again.

Following a post from his son Trace expressing concern for him and his sisters – Miley, Brandi, and Noah – country music star Billy Ray Cyrus shared a message on January 26, 2025, asking for prayers for his family, including his children and their mother.

In March 2025, Billy Ray appeared to be getting closer to his daughters, Miley and Noah, publicly celebrating their new music with a heartfelt message.

He shared on Instagram how incredibly proud he was of the two performers, calling their performance amazing and heartfelt. He even admitted to being moved to tears while writing the message, jokingly adding that he was glad his followers couldn’t see him.

In May 2025, Billy Ray shared a photo of himself with Miley, her boyfriend Maxx Morando and his son Braison Cyrus at what appears to be the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer’s farm in Tennessee. He captioned his Instagram post, “Happy Birthday Braison!!!!!”

After a day of speculation, Miley addressed rumors of a family disagreement on Instagram, acknowledging that she and her father have faced difficulties in the past.

Miley continued, “Now, in my thirties, family is my priority above all else. I’m at peace knowing bridges have been built and time has done a lot of healing. Grateful for the good health and love that flows through my family.”

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2026-06-10 16:49