Time to put Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley on the Mount Rushmore of confusing Hollywood couples who have entered the zeitgeist with absolutely no notice—in bunny ears, no less.
It has now been a year and a half since these two debuted, but a lot has happened (with the latest update being a possible engagement!), so we’re putting it in one place via a timeline. Buckle up!
Jump to:
Circa 2022
Production begins on the Christmas comedy Christmas in Paradise, which stars both Elizabeth and Billy Ray. They meet, some sparks fly, but then they lose touch.
Here’s the trailer, if you’re feeling mentally strong.
April 2025
Everybody is minding their own business on Easter when Elizabeth hops—like a bunny, if you will—on Instagram and debuts her and Billy Ray’s relationship.
Soon after, the Daily Mail speaks to a source who claims that news of Elizabeth and Billy Ray’s relationship is a “slap in the face” to Tish Cyrus, saying, “Billy Ray met Elizabeth in 2022 on the set of their Christmas film, which they both starred in. Tish had her thoughts and suspicions at the time that he was cheating on her with Liz, but Billy Ray flat-out denied it.”
The source goes on to claim, “They got very close on the set and seeing that they are together now is a slap in the face for Tish, but it also confirms that she was likely right about her suspicions. They never stopped being in contact.”
Meanwhile, another insider says, “Despite what people think about this, she is good for him. If she can keep Billy Ray on the straight and narrow, more power to her. The fact that she has such a history with him and met him at a time in his life when he was doing well is a good thing. He can be himself around her.”
A source from People also enters the chat, saying that Billy’s 2024 divorce from his ex Firerose “put him down” and “Liz is perfect for him to move on. And she won’t put up with any nonsense.”
Not to be outdone, yet another insider chats to Page Six, saying, “She’s been waiting a long time for romance. I think she likes the whole cowboy thing. Liz’s friends think it must be a joke or madness, but they aren’t saying it to her. Elton may not understand this relationship and is a bit bemused by it. But for all his faults, Elton is really loyal to Liz.”
At last, Billy Ray goes onto Apple Music Country’s The Ty Bentli Show (via EW and People) and chats about meeting Elizabeth on set of their film, saying, “We did very few scenes together, but the couple times we were in the same scene there was a chemistry. We just laughed and it was at a time I wasn’t laughing a lot, and I found it the oddest thing.”
He adds that they lost touch until Elizabeth randomly reached out: “A friend reached out, I didn’t even know the number, and it’s like, ‘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.’ So, I text back, I go, ‘Who is this?’ And it’s like, ‘Elizabeth Hurley.’ Of all the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most… this friend who made me laugh.”
He continues, “It’s just been beautiful, and again, no expectations of where we go from here other than her and her son. I do love him a lot, and 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.”
Oh, and amid the world reeling from their relationship reveal, Elizabeth shares a photo from her and Billy Ray’s weekend in Tennessee, where they appear to have spent their time posing by random trees and riding around in trucks with concerned-looking dogs and American flags.
May 2025
Elizabeth makes an appearance at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s 2025 Hot Pink Party, and says, “I have to go back to England tomorrow, but Billy will come to England soon.” She adds, “We are very happy. We both love country music. We both love the country, and we both love our kids. We’re happy together.”
By the end of the month, these two go red-carpet official!
