Billy Ray Cyrus: Over the Hill, Finds New Life & Harmony

Billy Ray Cyrus is marking a significant return to music with his first original album in over ten years, titled 'The Hill,' set for release on June 16, 2026. This album signifies a period of profound personal recovery and renewal for the 64-year-old artist. He recently navigated a difficult divorce, a severe illness that led to hospitalization with sepsis, and a diagnosis of vocal paralysis in 2024, all while worrying his voice was permanently damaged.

Finding inspiration atop a hill on his Nashville property, the place where his mother is buried, Cyrus channeled his experiences into his new music. He has since found love again with actress Elizabeth Hurley, 61, after previously divorcing Tish Cyrus in 2022 and undergoing a brief marriage and separation from Johanna Rosie Scholem. His relationships with his children, including Miley, Braison, and Noah, have also been mended, with Braison co-writing and Noah duetting on the new album. The family's support was crucial, especially after a moment when his grandson Bear, 5, encouraged him to 'try again.'

Cyrus, who quit drinking in 1992, reflects on his journey, acknowledging past struggles but focusing on a brighter future. He credits his grandson's words with inspiring him to pursue both love and music again. His relationship with Hurley, which became public on Easter Sunday 2025, represents a significant new chapter, with Cyrus embracing the unexpected by traveling internationally with her. After nearly four decades in the industry, Cyrus feels he is in a happy place, embracing life's adjustments and looking forward.