logo
Billy Ray Cyrus | Source: Getty Images
Billy Ray Cyrus | Source: Getty Images

Cindy Cyrus Became Billy Ray Cyrus' First Wife 3 Months after He Spotted Her in a Crowd - Inside Their Marriage

Kudzai Allan Chidamwoyo
Oct 25, 2022
04:15 A.M.

Country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus's first wife, Cindy Cyrus, is largely unknown by fans. However, she played a significant role in establishing Billy Ray's career as she co-wrote some of the hit songs on his first album. The couple had an unplanned wedding, but their marriage ended four years later.

Advertisement

Billy Ray Cyrus is known mainly for being a country music musician due to his success in the music industry. He became a multi-platinum-selling artist after he released 53 singles and 16 albums, some of which reached the top ten on the Billboard charts.

He is also known for being the father of successful singer and actress Miley Ray Cyrus, who he had with his second wife. Not much is known about Cindy Cyrus. Nevertheless, Cindy still played a significant role in her husband's career; therefore, it is noteworthy to put the spotlight on her and her marriage.

Billy Ray Cyrus at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on August 26, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Billy Ray Cyrus at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on August 26, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Facts about Cindy Cyrus

Cindy Cyrus, born Cindy Smith, was married to Billy Ray Cyrus for four years. The former couple married in 1986 and divorced in 1991. Their separation happened around the same time Billy Ray was set to release his debut album, "Some Gave All."

Advertisement

Cindy contributed to the album by co-writing two of the songs featured on the album. The songs "Where'm I Gonna Live?" and "Some Gave All" are somewhat ironic, given that their marriage was crumbling at that time.

Although the former song speaks about a couple having troubles and the man being thrown out of the house, the latter is dedicated to American soldiers who gave their lives to defend the country.

Advertisement

How Did Cindy and Billy Meet?

Cindy and Billy Ray met while he was performing at the Changers Bar in Ironton, Ohio. Billy and his band, Sly Dog, had become residents there and played in the bar frequently. Billy Ray noted:

"I noticed this pretty blonde in the bar. The first night I remember seeing Cindy, she was wearing a small halter top and very short shorts."

Despite the attraction between the two, they did not talk but only had eye contact for weeks until Cindy sent Billy a drink onstage. They started talking during his breaks, and eventually, he asked Cindy to dinner. That was when their relationship officially began, and before long, Cindy started supporting her future husband in his career.

Advertisement

Wedding

Cindy and Ray's wedding was an unplanned wedding that happened in the heat of the moment. They came up with the idea of getting married while they were hungover after drinking the previous night heavily.

While they were still intoxicated, a justice of the peace married them after they exchanged vows and rings. The wedding happened just three months after they had met. Billy even admitted that he was not sure of Cindy's last name at that point. He said:

"Looking back, the funniest part of the whole thing — hard as it is to believe — is that I wasn't certain about Cindy's last name. I'd heard her use Smith or Lewis but now she was officially and legally Cindy Cyrus."

Billy Ray Cyrus performing at Fan Fair in Nashville on January 1, 1992 | Source: Getty Images

Billy Ray Cyrus performing at Fan Fair in Nashville on January 1, 1992 | Source: Getty Images

Advertisement

The End of Marriage

When Cindy and Billy were married, Billy was still a struggling musician putting a lot of effort into making his dreams come true. After all, he had dropped out of college and abandoned a baseball scholarship for a music career.

Trying to make it in the music world, he would play all night at the bar surrounded by girls. He also frequently traveled to Nashville in search of record deals. His marriage suffered from it as they got to spend less and less time together until it finally took its toll, and the marriage ended in 1991. He noted:

"Cindy and I had different schedules. I'd sleep in the morning and get up around three or four in the afternoon. Then I'd hit the gym and wait for Cindy, who got home around 5:30. She'd make dinner, we'd eat, then she got in bed, and I'd go to the Ragtime."

Advertisement

Cindy's Famous Husband's Later Relationship

A year after Cindy and Billy Ray Cyrus separated, Billy became a father of two from two different women. The firstborn, Christopher Cody, was born in April 1992 to Kristin Luckey.

The second is Miley Cyrus, in November 1992, to Leticia Finley. The following year, Billy and Finley married on December 28. They had two more children in a marriage that lasted for 27 years until their separation in 2020. Finely later filed for divorce in 2022.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Leticia Cyrus arrive at the premiere of "Bolt" in Hollywood, California on November 17, 2008 | Source: Getty Images

Billy Ray Cyrus and Leticia Cyrus arrive at the premiere of "Bolt" in Hollywood, California on November 17, 2008 | Source: Getty Images

There were rumors that Billy got engaged to Firerose, an Australian singer, in 2022 after they posted pictures of her wearing a diamond ring on Instagram. The duo previously collaborated on the song "New Day" in 2021. Their engagement has not yet been confirmed.

Cindy's marriage to Billy Ray lasted for four seemingly tumultuous years, which began with an unplanned wedding. Unfortunately, it did not produce any children despite Billy Ray later becoming a father of six children. Still, she managed to contribute to the establishment of the remarkable career that Billy has had.

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
Related posts

Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, 70, Becomes 1st Woman to Amass $100B - The Richest Woman in the World

December 29, 2023

Сrying Woman in Shabby Clothes Bursts into Wedding and Goes into Labor Right at Groom's Feet – Story of the Day

March 04, 2024

Harry Chose Not to Stay in the Same Room with Camilla While Visiting Ailing Dad — Inside Their Relationship

February 15, 2024

This Boy Was Only 16 When He Lost Star Dad – 8 Years Later, He Came Out as Gay and Now Raises 2 Sons

March 06, 2024

Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner Had ‘Real’ Chemistry Then His Ex Came to One Shoot & Stepped In

November 27, 2023

This Girl Was Abandoned by Famous Dad & Couldn't Talk about Him — As Grown-Up, She Broke Silence & Follows His Acting Footsteps

December 01, 2023

Camila Redesigned Diana's $129K Jewelry Wedding Gift That She Had Worn Close to Her Heart, Reports Said

February 08, 2024

Prince Harry Responded to Rumors That He Is Not King Charles’ Real Son – Why People Think He Is Illegitimate

February 09, 2024

Marlo Thomas & Phil Donahue Shared How Their Marriage Lasted More than 45 Years despite the 'Biggest Challenges'

December 04, 2023

'M*A*S*H' Star Mike Farrell's Son, Whom He Welcomed with a Co-Star, Shows Huge Muscles at 53

December 19, 2023

Naomi Judd Raised 2 Daughters on Nurse’s Salary & without Electricity — She Got Estranged from One before Death

December 28, 2023

This Walmart Employee Is Child Star’s Spouse - She Died Homeless in His Arms

February 05, 2024

Huge Star Marries This Man in Smoky Hotel Room – He Flies Miles to Her on a Stolen Plane after Learning She Was Hurt

March 05, 2024

Sitcom Legend Wed This Man Who Was Her School Crush – Years Later He Came Out as Gay

March 05, 2024