Billy Ray Cyrus breaks silence on family drama with daughter Miley and ex-wife Tish

For years, whispers of tension have swirled around Billy Ray Cyrus’s famously close-knit brood, but on Mother’s Day weekend the country star finally spoke up, breaking his long-held silence on the family drama with daughter Miley Cyrus and ex-wife Tish Cyrus.

In an emotional Instagram post honoring the women who shaped him, Billy Ray acknowledged that being married to him “wasn’t easy,” but insisted the Cyrus clan is “so close to full healing” as they move past a very public feud rooted in the couple’s high-profile 2022 divorce and subsequent social media fallout.

It was a far cry from the awkward public shows of distance, such as Miley and her dad unfollowing each other on Instagram and Tish appearing to cut ties online, that fueled tabloid speculation of a bitter family rift. Now, with bridges reportedly rebuilt and candid admissions on both sides, Billy Ray’s heartfelt words mark a turning point in the Cyrus family narrative, laying bare how honesty and time have begun to soothe old wounds.

Billy Ray Cyrus speaks out on the family feud

In his May 11 Instagram message, Billy Ray Cyrus, 63, directly addressed what had become the elephant in the room: his relationship with Miley Cyrus, 32, and Tish, 57. He opened by celebrating “the influential women in my life,” naming his mother, grandmother, ex-wife Tish, and daughter Miley, before admitting,

“I’m a very imperfect man, and being married to me wasn’t easy”.

The post went on to express optimism that “our family is so close to full healing,” a clear nod to the frosty period following his 2022 divorce and the high-profile social-media unfollowings that followed. Days earlier, in a January 26 YouTube Short, he had hinted at the same sentiment, expressing hope that his family’s fractured relationships would mend with time and understanding.

Through both platforms, Billy Ray’s tone struck a balance between accountability, acknowledging past missteps, and optimism for a more united future, effectively answering how he chose to break his silence on the feud and chart a path forward for his family.

Inside the Cyrus family drama

The drama reached a boil when Tish appeared to unfollow Miley on Instagram shortly after Miley reunited with her dad for brother Braison’s 31st birthday, a move Tish later chalked up to a “phone mishap” in a public reply. Miley herself took to Instagram Stories to calm fans, writing,

“My mama and I are too tight for anything to ever come between us,” while conceding she and her father “have had our challenges over the years” but that “family is my priority above all else”.

Tish duplicated that sentiment on X (formerly Twitter), posting,

“I would never unfollow Miley, her and I are as close as we’ve always been. Period. Love you Little @mileycyrus”.

Beyond the social-media sparks, think-pieces on outlets like Los 40 Español highlighted how the Cyrus siblings had effectively split into camps—Miley, Brandi, and Trace rallying around Tish, while Noah and Braison were seen as siding with Billy Ray, underscoring the complexity of loyalties in blended families.

Video essays on YouTube have traced the rift to the couple’s high-profile remarriages—Tish’s to Dominic Purcell in 2023 and Billy Ray’s to Firerose (and later linked to Elizabeth Hurley)—which fans speculated may have deepened divisions.

Yet recent gestures—a joint family photo, public shout-outs, and social-media forgiveness—suggest that counseling, time, and unconditional love are winning out over resentment, painting a picture of a clan committed to healing despite its bumps.

Billy Ray Cyrus’s candid acknowledgements and heartfelt messages show that even high-profile families can hit rough patches but still find their way back to one another.

By addressing the feud head-on and crediting both Miley and Tish for their resilience, he’s reframed this chapter of the Cyrus family story as one of renewal rather than rupture. If nothing else, this saga reminds us that true family bonds, once tested, can emerge stronger when honesty, humour, and humility lead the way.

Jasmine is a journalist for Primetimer

She graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Sophia College in Mumbai, where she had the unique opportunity to publish research in social science and media.

Jasmine holds more than three years of experience including an ex-Founder's role at a digital marketing agency called 'Very Weird'. Additionally, she also had stints as a journalist at GrowMeOrganic and Scatter Content. She also worked in the Social Media Management team for beauty and wellness brands, Green Maven and Yoga House Mumbai.

Jasmine is a strict follower of ethics in journalism and stays updated with industry developments in order to improve her craft. She is committed to presenting diverse perspectives, which enriches her storytelling and enhances the relevance of her articles in today’s dynamic media landscape.