Love works in mysterious ways — just ask Hollywood’s latest unlikely power couple. In what feels like a plot twist worthy of both a country ballad and a Hugh Grant film, Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley have stepped out together, proving that romance knows no boundaries of geography or genre.
The pair turned heads at Rome’s prestigious Palazzo Barberini last week, making their relationship red-carpet official at the Orizzonti/Rosso exhibition opening. And boy, did they make an entrance.
Cyrus, the 63-year-old country crooner who gave us “Achy Breaky Heart” (remember that line-dancing phenomenon?), couldn’t help but gush about his new love. Breaking from the usual celebrity habit of playing coy, he went straight for the heart with a social media post celebrating his “beautiful girlfriend in Rome ❤️” — no publicist-approved ambiguity needed.
The visual contrast between the two couldn’t be more striking — or more perfectly matched. Hurley, who’s somehow defying time at 59, brought her signature glamour in a head-turning pink gown that probably had half of Rome reaching for their sunglasses. Meanwhile, Cyrus stayed true to his Nashville roots, rocking a black ensemble that screamed “cowboy meets Italian fashion week.” Somehow, it worked.
Their chemistry? Electric. The kind that makes cynics roll their eyes and romantics reach for their handkerchiefs. But here’s the kicker — they actually have stuff in common. At the recent Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Hot Pink Party (where else?), Hurley spilled the tea about their shared interests: “We both like to laugh a lot, and we both love the country. And we both love country music, both love movies.” Then, with perfect comic timing, she added, “We’ve got a lot in common — and cowboy boots, definitely.”
This isn’t just some random Hollywood hookup — their spark ignited during the filming of “Christmas in Paradise” back in 2022. Since then, they’ve been writing their own romance script, complete with family approval. Hurley’s son Damian (who showed up in Rome sporting a red suit that would make any fashionista proud) seems thoroughly on board, dropping supportive emojis on their social media debuts like confetti at a wedding.
The skeptics? Well, they’re doing what skeptics do best. But according to those in the know, Hurley’s not losing sleep over the naysayers. “She’s focused on the special things they have in common,” reveals an insider to PEOPLE. “She loves his Southern vibes. He’s very calm and happy around her.” (And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t be?)
For Cyrus, who’s weathered some family storms (including a much-publicized estrangement from daughter Miley), this relationship seems to be hitting all the right notes. Social media observers have pointed out something remarkable: the man is actually smiling. Like, genuinely beaming. As one fan put it, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Billy Ray smile. It definitely looks good on him!”
As Hurley approaches her 60th birthday celebration next month (which, knowing her style, will probably be spectacular), their relationship is blossoming into something that feels refreshingly authentic in an industry often criticized for its superficiality. It’s like watching a country music video collide with a British rom-com — and somehow, against all odds, creating a perfect harmony.
Who’d have thought that 2025 would give us this delightfully unexpected pairing? In an era of carefully curated celebrity relationships, there’s something wonderfully genuine about a country boy and a British bombshell finding common ground in cowboy boots and belly laughs. Sometimes the best stories are the ones you never saw coming.
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