Marriage to Divorce: Billy Ray & Tish Cyrus Timeline

Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus-Purcell went from 1990s romance and family-building to multiple divorce filings—before a final split in 2022.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus-Purcell’s story is a Hollywood-style marriage that refused to stay in one lane for decades.. From their early start as a blended entertainment family to a long run of on-again. off-again divorce talks—and finally a permanent break in 2022—theirs became one of the most talked-about relationships in music and television circles. especially for fans tracking the Cyrus family legacy.

They first crossed paths in 1991, meeting at a club shortly after Billy Ray divorced his first wife, Cindy Smith.. At the time. it was reported that the country star was struggling to find his footing in the industry and was even dealing with homelessness. while Tish entered the picture during a turning point in his career.

The relationship quickly turned into family life. In November 1992, Tish and Billy Ray welcomed their eldest daughter, Miley. That same period also carried additional family news for Billy Ray, who reportedly welcomed a son, Christopher Cody, with Kristin.

Their wedding came soon after.. Tish married Billy Ray at age 26 in December 1993 at their home in Tennessee. and the report also points out that Billy Ray adopted Tish’s children. Brandi and Braison. after the marriage.. Years later. fans would keep revisiting the couple’s homegrown love story as the family expanded further into mainstream pop culture.

As the marriage settled into its next chapter, Tish and Billy Ray welcomed their son Braison in May 1994. Their growing family continued with major milestones in the years that followed, including the arrival of Noah in January 2000.

Part of what made their partnership stand out was how deeply their personal life and entertainment careers intertwined.. Billy Ray and Miley both landed roles in Hannah Montana. and during Tish’s 2024 “Call Her Daddy” interview. the Hopetown Entertainment president claimed she encouraged her ex-husband to take on the Disney Channel role so the family could live and work together while he and Miley were on set.

By 2010, however, the relationship hit a serious turning point.. Billy Ray filed for divorce from Tish that year. and the pair released a statement describing the moment as difficult for their family as they tried to work through personal matters.. Around the same time, rumors swirled about an alleged affair involving Tish and Bret Michaels, but he denied the speculation.. Those tensions ultimately didn’t end the marriage—Billy Ray and Tish reconciled and called off their divorce by 2011.

Even after the split talk faded, the couple’s public narrative kept shifting.. In 2011, Billy Ray made headlines when he said in an interview that Hannah Montana “destroyed” his family.. He later retracted the claim and described dropping the divorce. framing a desire to rebuild what he felt was lost—saying he wanted to bring his family back together and return to the father-daughter dynamic that existed before the Disney-era spotlight.

Not long after, the cycle returned.. In 2013. Tish filed for divorce from Billy Ray. and both reportedly described the situation as a personal matter while they tried to figure out how to move forward.. A month later. the divorce was again called off. and they explained the reversal—saying they realized they still loved each other and chose to stay together.. They also discussed entering couples therapy for the first time in roughly 22 years. crediting that decision with helping them communicate in new ways and bringing them closer.

Their family priorities stayed in view even during the ups and downs. In 2015, Tish and Billy Ray attended the MTV Video Music Awards with their kids to support Miley, positioning the evening as a rare, visible family moment built around their daughter’s spotlight.

And when major milestones arrived, they marked them openly.. In 2018, Tish celebrated 25 years of marriage to Billy Ray shortly after Miley tied the knot with Liam Hemsworth.. In her Instagram post at the time. she reflected on standing in their Franklin. Tennessee home and said everything had come full circle. turning the anniversary into another public reminder of how long their journey had been.

The long relationship eventually reached its final endpoint in 2022.. Tish and Billy Ray permanently split and shared the news in a joint statement reported through PEOPLE.. They said that after about 30 years. five children. and a lifetime of memories. they decided to go their separate ways—not with sadness. but with love—while emphasizing that they would always remain family and continue a shared experience as friends and parents.

Even after the divorce, the connection stayed present in quieter ways.. In May 2026. Billy Ray publicly wished Tish a happy 59th birthday. posting a sentimental social media video showing him performing “Ready. Set. Don’t Go. ” an emotional father-daughter song inspired by Miley.. Alongside the performance, he wished Tish “peace, love, and happiness … forever.”

For fans. the repeated back-and-forth between separation filings and reconciliations became as much a part of the public record as the entertainment milestones themselves.. It also highlights how careers in music and television can reshape family routines. while the couple’s decisions—particularly their willingness to work on their relationship through therapy—help explain why the story didn’t end the first time divorce became a headline.

Looking at the timeline as a whole, the Cyrus marriage reads like a case study in endurance under constant spotlight.. Their romance began amid a career struggle. expanded into a household that became inseparable from major TV success. weathered public rumors and multiple divorce filings. and ultimately ended with a final. intentionally measured split—followed by ongoing respect that still surfaced years later in birthday wishes and musical tributes.

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