Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley appear ready to take their unexpected romance to the next level. The country singer and the British actress and model are engaged after more than a year of dating, sources confirmed to Page Six, adding another chapter to a relationship that surprised fans when the pair went public in 2025.
Hurley, 61, recently drew attention after being spotted wearing a large diamond ring, prompting speculation that the couple were preparing to marry. One source dismissed the suggestion that the ring might be a movie prop, telling Page Six, “She’s filming ‘The ‘Burbs’; I hardly think this ring is a prop.”
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Cyrus, 65, also fueled the rumors with a cryptic Instagram post on Thursday that included a ring emoji. Hurley's son, Damian, reacted to the post with a celebratory emoji. “This is the most fertile solid ground I have stood on in a long time,” Cyrus wrote.
While promoting his new single, “Party’s in the Back,” with Deltona, the singer also teased an upcoming appearance connected to NASCAR in Phoenix, adding that the event “kinda has a ring :ring: to it.” A representative for Cyrus could not be reached for comment.
From an unexpected romance to an engagement
Cyrus and Hurley made their relationship public on Easter Sunday in 2025. They had first met while working on the 2022 holiday film Christmas in Paradise, then reconnected in February 2025. Their romance attracted attention partly because they come from different corners of the entertainment industry.
Cyrus is known for his country music career and his role as Robby Ray Stewart on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, while Hurley rose to international fame as an actress and model, appearing in films including Bedazzled and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. But Hurley has said the relationship makes more sense than it might appear from the outside.
Speaking on the SheerLuxe podcast earlier this month, she acknowledged that the pairing might seem unlikely in some respects but said the two have plenty in common. “There are a lot more similarities than you’d think,” she said, joking that they have “identical hair” and are “actually like twins” apart from Cyrus' beard.
Their shared appreciation for rural life has also helped bring them together. In an interview with Page Six in May, Hurley explained that Cyrus' farm in Tennessee reminded her of her own property in Gloucestershire, England. For the couple, that quieter lifestyle appears to be an important part of their connection.
Country living, bonfires and birds of prey
Hurley offered another glimpse into their relationship in a June interview with People, describing a life that sounds far removed from Hollywood premieres and celebrity parties. She said their time together in the countryside often involves gardening with power tools, watching birds of prey and lighting bonfires, while Cyrus plays his guitar beneath a tree.
Cyrus has also described the connection as something that goes beyond their apparent differences. He added that Hurley understands the unusual pressures of life in the public eye, along with the personal challenges that can accompany it.
Their relationship has unfolded largely through glimpses of life together, with both describing a bond built around shared experiences, country living and their familiarity with the entertainment business. An engagement would mark another major relationship milestone for both celebrities, each of whom has a complicated romantic history.
For Cyrus, it would be his fourth marriage. He married Cindy Smith in 1986, with the marriage ending in 1991. He later married Tish Cyrus in 1993; their divorce was finalized in 2023. That same year, he married Australian singer Firerose, but their marriage ended in 2024. Firerose accused Cyrus of abuse, allegations he denied. Cyrus has six children, including global pop star Miley Cyrus.
Hurley, meanwhile, was in a high-profile relationship with actor Hugh Grant from 1987 to 2000. She later had a son, Damian, with the late producer Steve Bing. In 2007, Hurley married Indian businessman Arun Nayar. They divorced in 2011. She subsequently became engaged to Australian cricket star Shane Warne, but the couple separated in 2013. Warne died in 2022. Now, Hurley and Cyrus appear poised to begin a new chapter together.