"A friend reached out" — Billy Ray Cyrus talks about Elizabeth Hurley messaging him at his lowest point

Billy Ray Cyrus is appreciative of his partner, Elizabeth Hurley, for reaching out to him during a low point in his life.

The pair first debuted their relationship on Instagram in a post on Easter Sunday, and now, the country star is reflecting on how they became closer in his upcoming interview on Apple Music Country's The Ty Bentli Show.

As reported by People Magazine, the Grammy winner, 63, said he met Hurley, 59, while filming 2022's Christmas in Paradise movie. At the time, the set was on the Caribbean island of Nevis, and he had just separated from his ex-wife, Tish, in April.

The singer noted that they "didn't speak for two years" after they finished filming, during which time, he had gotten into some tough times.

"I felt like, ‘Wow, can life get any harder? Can it get any tougher?’ For me, at a certain point it was like, you can’t get knocked down any flatter than laying on your back when life is kicking you," explained Cyrus. "And in this moment... a friend reached out."

Billy Ray Cyrus shares why he's so grateful for his current partner, Elizabeth Hurley

Billy Ray Cyrus recalled his initial few encounters with Elizabeth Hurley during his interview, noting:

"We did very few scenes together but the couple times we were in the same scene there was a chemistry there," he said of Hurley. "We just laughed, and it was at a time I wasn’t laughing a lot." Cyrus continued, "The oddest part was first, how much we laughed. Second, I figured we were so different but in some very strange way we had way more in common than we had different."

He also shared that he "didn't even know the number" of those who had texted him along the lines of,

"Hey, it looks like life might be a little bit tough and just wanted you to know I’m in your corner; you’ve got a friend in your corner."

Cyrus compared the text to a heartwarming encounter he had with Johnny Cash in 1992, "when I was taking a bit of a pounding from the critics."

"Johnny said, ‘Hey, you know, just remember that all things that are good come from almighty God above and that stuff happens, and in your case… the good outweighs the bad. Let ‘em have it. I’m in your corner.’"

Hurley's message reminded him of "a bit of what Johnny had written me at my lowest point."

"So, I text back, I go, ‘Who is this?’ And it’s like, ‘Elizabeth Hurley.’ Of all the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most… this friend who made me laugh," added Billy Ray Cyrus.

He referred to his now-girlfriend as "a great human being," adding:

"If all we ever were [is] the friends that we are, I would take that. She’s so impressively brilliant. She reminds me a lot of Dolly Parton. She’s a very smart businesswoman," he said, adding: "If you can laugh together, you can make it through everything."

Referring to the bond him and Hurley share, Billy Ray Cyrus said, "It's just been beautiful." he also noted that they have no expectations of each other, adding that he loves her son "a lot," and that "it’s great that God brought them into my life when he did." The "Achy Breaky Heart" singer also shared that he hasn't been this happy in a long time.

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Billy Ray Cyrus was previously married to singer Firerose, though they divorced in under a year in May 2024. Prior to that, he was married to Trish, with whom he shares daughters Miley, Noah, and Brandi, and sons Trace and Braison. Before Trish, he dated Kristen Luckey, with whom he welcomed son Christopher Cody.

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