Miley Cyrus' mom's 'biggest fears' came true - mom's death and divorce

March 08, 2024

Tish Cyrus says she had a “complete psychological breakdown” after her “two worst fears” came true. It was during a difficult time and started to unravel at the height of the Covid pandemic when Miley Cyrus’ parents separated before filing for divorce.

Tish appeared alongside her eldest daughter Brandi on the most recent episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast. She spoke candidly about her life and subsequent divorce from her husband of more than 30 years, Billy Ray Cyrus, 62. The celebrity couple share five children together: Brandi, 36, Trace, 34, Miley, 30, Braison, 29, and Noah 24. Billy also has a son named Christopher, 31, from a previous relationship. Tish says a death in her family and divorce caused her mental health to nosedive.

Miley Cyrus’ parents filed for divorce after Tish’s mom died

Miley Cyrus’ mom Tish explained both of her worst fears came true in 2020 when she split from Billy and her mom passed away. Tish married the Achy Breaky Heart singer in 1993, and they had been on and off over the years, with two brief splits. However, they would reconcile each time, but in this instance, Tish says she knew it was the last time.

Although they separated in 2020, they didn’t file for divorce for two years.

She explained: “It was so crazy because, honestly, my two biggest fears in life were always being alone and my mom passing away.

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“I was like, ‘I just don’t know if I’ll survive when my mom dies.’ Like, honestly. And I had, like, one month of a, honestly, complete psychological breakdown.

“It was the worst thing — like, honestly. It was not good.”

She called celebrity psychiatrist Daniel Amen and asked him to “please put me in a mental hospital,” but he didn’t think “that’s the best thing for either of us.”

They lived in separate states

Miley Cyrus’ parents lived in separate states before their divorce. Billy Ray was living in Tennessee during the pandemic while Tish, 56, stayed in California, where the music star lives.

The celebrity continued: “I could not eat. I could not sleep, I could not stop crying. I literally weighed, like, 130 [pounds],” she told host Alex Cooper.

Tish went on: “I don’t have my mom, and then I don’t have my husband that’s been my husband for 30 years. Like, holy crap, I’m scared.”

Tish said she found her solitude “hugely transformative” but added: “[Our marriage] had not been in a good place for a long time, and I think I did stay so long out of fear — literal fear — of being alone.”

She married her new man, TV actor Dominic Purcell, last year. Whereas, Billy found new love in fellow musician Firerose, and they also tied the knot in October.

Tish speaks out over claims Hannah Montana ‘destroyed’ them

Elsewhere on the podcast, Tish reacted to a 2011 claim by Billy Ray, who said the Disney Channel show “destroyed” their family unit.

He told GQ: “Oh, it’s huge – it destroyed my family. I’ll tell you right now – the damn show destroyed my family. And I sit there and go, ‘Yeah, you know what? Some gave all.’ It is my motto, and guess what? I have to eat that one.”

Billy continued: “I some-gave-all’d it all right. I some-gave-all’d it while everybody else was going to the bank. It’s all sad.”

He was then asked if he wished the show, which even got a feature-length movie, had never happened. He responded: “I hate to say it, but yes, I do. Yeah. I’d take it back in a second. For my family to be here and just be everybody okay, safe and sound and happy and normal, would have been fantastic. Heck, yeah. I’d erase it all in a second if I could.”

Tish didn’t agree about the series that launched her daughter’s Hollywood career and said: “Absolutely not. I just think he was having a moment.”

Brandi then put in her two cents and said: “The family’s not destroyed, first of all. We’re doing great.”

If you are affected by any issues raised in the article or would like someone to speak to, please call the Samaritans for free on 116 123. You can also email them at [email protected] or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch in the UK. In the US, please visit Samaritans USA for more information.

You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text 741741 to get in touch with the Crisis Text Line. Americans can now call or text 988 to reach out and speak to a counselor.

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