Billy Ray Cyrus Was at Rock Bottom-Then His Grandson Said Two Words That Changed Everything
Billy Ray Cyrus is reflecting on the darkest chapter of his life. From divorce and a health scare that nearly ended his career to fractured family relationships - and how an unexpected push from his grandson helped him find his way back.
Now, with a new album, a renewed bond with his children, and a romance with Elizabeth Hurley, the country star says he's finally found peace after going "to hell and back."
"When you're completely on the bottom, that is the only way to go - up," Cyrus recently told People, adding, "I had entered a period where I hadn't worked for a really long time. And then I realized today, I said, ‘Cyrus, you're working now, man. Be careful what you ask for. You said you wanted to get on the ride? Well, here you go.'"
After his 28-year marriage to ex-wife Trish ended in 2022, the 64-year-old singer found himself on the edge of a tough period. "Sometimes change is scary, and I'll keep doing the wrong thing for a long time because I'm scared of change," he said about facing a new life without Trish. "But when I finally do get the courage up to commit in my mind and say, ‘I'm going to do this,' then that's the way it is. No looking back. I think that's maybe sometimes good for everyone-to just let go."
Cyrus fell into a string of relationships, marrying and divorcing singer Johanna Rosie Scholem, both citing abuse in court documents filed in 2024. During the same year, Cyrus was diagnosed with vocal paralysis and sepsis, which nearly killed him.
During what he described as a particularly low point, Cyrus' grandson Bear gave him the strength to keep pushing with two words. "In this very broken moment of my life, my little grandson Bear looked at me and said, ‘Try again.' And up until that moment, he had never spoken to me at all," Cyrus recalled. "I wasn't even sure if he knew my name. In that moment I thought, ‘He's telling you something.' Is it about love? Music? Somehow, I got to try again at both. So I'm learning to try again."
Joking that he'll never be considered as "parent of the year," Cyrus said he's ready for a fresh start with his kids.
"Life is a series of adjustments, and I think my family always knew that. We've all been through a lot, and we've seen a lot. Whatever happened is in the rearview mirror," he reflected. "The past is over and done. The future is what we have, and we got to look forward."
Cyrus has continued to move forward and went public with a new relationship in 2025 with Hurley. "What more could I ask for? I don't have anything to complain about," he said. "I like how everything looks right now. I finally found this wonderful place where I'm happy."
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 6:29 AM.