Billy Ray Cyrus and singer-songwriter Firerose have officially confirmed their engagement, following previous speculation after posting photos on Instagram spotlighting a stunning ring.
Cyrus, 61, and Firerose, 34, are set to get married, they confirmed to PEOPLE in a story shared on Wednesday (November 16). The “Achy Break Heart” superstar credits his late German Shepherd, Tex, with introducing him to his now-fiancée, who legally changed her name to the one her grandmother called her as a child. Cyrus reflected that he first encountered Firerose about 12 years ago, while taking Tex outside on the set of the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, in which he starred with his now 29-year-old daughter Miley Cyrus. He said, “in a lot of ways, we became friends.” During the pandemic, the pair wrote songs together, and Cyrus told PEOPLE, “it just evolved more into, as musical soulmates, to soulmates, happy, pure love that to me, I didn't know could exist. Again, we're musicians, first and foremost, both of us. And we found this harmony, and this rhythm, this melody to life.”
Cyrus split from his wife of nearly three decades, Tish Cyrus, 55, earlier this year. Tish reportedly filed for divorce in a Tennessee court, marking the third time the couple has filed. They share five children, ranging in age from 22 to 35, including Miley and Noah Cyrus. Miley was reportedly no longer on speaking terms with her father amid the divorce. However, Cyrus told PEOPLE in the report on Wednesday that everything is OK between him and his six children, including son Christopher Cody from a previous relationship: “Everybody's turning the page. It's been a lot, but everyone knew that it was time for a change.”
Cyrus proposed to Firerose in August, according to PEOPLE, while she was living at his farm in Franklin, Tennessee, along with his mother, who died that same month. Firerose recalled that the unconventional proposal didn’t include a ring or a formal question. In fact, she designed her own ring after the couple simply talked about marriage: “Billy looked at me and said, 'Do you, do you wanna marry me?' And I was just like, 'Of course I do. I love you.’”
Cyrus and Firerose debuted a new duet, “Time,” on Wednesday as they confirmed their engagement. The official music video chronicles the couple’s relationship, including snapshots of the engagement ring. Watch it here: