Billy Ray Cyrus has revealed how his romance with Elizabeth Hurley happened.
The couple revealed their relationship when the country crooner, 63, and the Austin Powers actress, 59 shared a photo of them cuddling on both of their Instagram accounts on Easter Sunday.
Now, Cyrus has spoken about how the pair regained contact - after they first met in 2022 while filming Christmas in Paradise on the Caribbean island of Nevis.
He told Apple Music Country's The Ty Bentli Show he was going through a tough time, and that Hurley reached out via text.
“I felt like, ‘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 said.
“And in this moment... a friend reached out.”
According to the singer, Hurley apparently said to Cyrus: “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.”
Cyrus said he didn’t know who was texting him, but was pleasantly surprised to find out it was Hurley.
“The oddest part was first, how much we laughed. Second, I figured we were so different but in some very strange way we had way more in common than we had different.”
He also said “there was a chemistry” between them when they filmed Christmas in Paradise.
“She’s so impressively brilliant,” he added.
“She reminds me a lot of Dolly Parton. She’s a very smart businesswoman.
“If you can laugh together, you can make it through everything.”
Cyrus also gets a long with Hurley’s son, Damian, 23, and added that it’s been a blessing for both to be in his life.
“It’s great that God brought them into my life when he did. It’s just a good thing. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this happy.”
Cyrus finalised his divorce from Australian singer Firerose in August just months after their dramatic break-up.
They married in October 2023 and separated seven months later.
He was previously married to Cindy Smith from 1986 to 1991, and Tish Cyrus from 1993 to 2022, with whom he shares five kids - including pop star Miley Cyrus, 32.
Hurley previously dated actor Hugh Grant for 13 years. They met in 1987 while working on Remando Al Viento and split in 2000 but have remained close friends.
She then had a brief relationship with late businessman Steve Bing and welcomed their son, Damian, in 2002. Bing died by suicide in 2020.
The Royals star was married to businessman Arun Nayar from 2007 to 2011 and dated Australian cricketer Shane Warne until 2013.
