Billy Ray Cyrus reveals text from Liz Hurley that ignited romance after divorce from Aussie singer

Billy Ray Cyrus has revealed the heartfelt message Liz Hurley sent him that sparked their romance in the wake of his divorce from his Aussie ex-wife.

Billy Ray Cyrus received a warm message from Elizabeth Hurley when he was down in the dumps from his divorce with ex-wife Firerose — but he didn’t even know it was the British beauty who sent it.

The text from the mysterious sender read, “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,” the country singer recently revealed.

Cyrus told Apple Music Country’s The Ty Bentli Show, in an excerpt obtained by People Thursday, that he responded to Hurley, “Who is this?’”

Billy Ray Cyrus was going through a contentious divorce with Firerose when he got a text from Liz Hurley. Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

In the text, Hurley, seen here at Cyrus’ ranch in Nashville, showed her support for the singer. Picture: Instagram

When she revealed her identity, the Achy Breaky Heart singer said he thought, “Of all the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most… this friend who made me laugh.”

Cyrus, 63, and Hurley, 59, had worked together on a movie called Christmas in Paradise in 2022, and the country star recalled how the actress lifted his spirits on set.

Cyrus and Hurley debuted their new romance over the Easter holidays. Picture: Instagram

“We did very few scenes together but the couple times we were in the same scene there was a chemistry there,” the Busy Man singer recalled. “We just laughed, and it was at a time I wasn’t laughing a lot.”

However, he said they lost touch for two years, which is when Cyrus’ marriage to Aussie singer Firerose, 36, came to its demise.

The former couple — who wed in 2023 — had a nasty split filled with abuse allegations.

Hurley met Cyrus on the set of the 2022 movie Christmas in Paradise, which also stars Kelsey Grammer. Picture: Lionsgate

The marriage only lasted about seven months and the divorce was finalised by August 2024.

Cyrus confessed on the The Ty Bentli Show that, during that time, he felt, “‘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 explained. “And in this moment… a friend reached out.”

Cyrus and Hurley went public with their romance on Easter Sunday by sharing a pic on Instagram of them looking cozy together as they posed by a field.

A source exclusively gave Page Six further insight into the timeline of their relationship, telling the outlet on Monday, “The romantic side started only a few weeks ago.”

Cyrus married Firerose, aka Johanna Hodges, in October 2023. Picture: Instagram

By May 2024, he filed for divorce from the Aussie singer. Picture: Instagram

The couple then continued to tease their courtship by sharing a video of them riding off into the sunset.

Although we’ve been told some of Hurley’s famous friends are confused by the latest development in her dating life, her son, Damian Hurley, publicly approved of the pair.

Elizabeth welcomed the 23-year-old model with late film producer Steve Bing. She was also previously married to businessman Arun Nayar from 2007 to 2010 and famously dated Hugh Grant.

Cyrus, for his part, has six kids, including Miley Cyrus. He welcomed the pop superstar with Tish Cyrus, whom he was married to from 1993 to 2022.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Billy Ray Cyrus reveals text from Liz Hurley that ignited romance after divorce from Aussie singer