Billy Ray Cyrus‘s ex-wife Tish Cyrus had long suspected that he cheated on her with his new squeeze Elizabeth Hurley years ago, although he ‘flat out’ denied that anything ever happened at the time.

The country star, 63, and British model Elizabeth, 59, appeared to casually confirm their new relationship on Easter Sunday when they shared a loved-up photograph with the world.

And while the romance came as a shock to many, his ex-wife Tish, 57, is far from surprised, as she saw the duo grow close during production of the 2022 film Christmas in Paradise – while they were still married.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, an insider claimed that while the new relationship is a ‘slap in the face’ for Tish, she was likely right about her suspicions.

They said: ‘Billy Ray met Elizabeth in 2022 on the set of their Christmas film, which they both starred in.

‘Tish had her thoughts and suspicions at the time that he was cheating on her with Liz, but Billy Ray flat out denied it.

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Tish Cyrus had long suspected Billy Ray cheated on her with Elizabeth Hurley years ago

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Billy Ray and Elizabeth announced their romance in a joint bombshell social media post

‘They got very close on the set and seeing that they are together now is a slap in the face for Tish, but it also confirms that she was likely right about her suspicions. They never stopped being in contact.’

Tish and Billy Ray officially divorced in April 2022 after nearly three decades of marriage. They share daughters Miley, 32, and Noah, 25, and son Braison, 30.

Billy Ray also adopted Tish’s daughter Brandi, 37, and son Trace, 36, from her previous marriage.

Tish has since moved on and married actor Dominic Purcell, who she wed in an intimate Malibu ceremony in August 2023 with Miley as her maid of honor.

Billy Ray, meanwhile, finalized his whirlwind divorce from singer Firerose in August, just months after a dramatic break-up that played out both publicly and privately.

After an increasingly bitter and public break up, during which each accused the other of verbal and emotional abuse, court documents obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail show that Firerose walked away with $0.

Elizabeth’s last long-term relationship with cricketer Shane Warne ended in 2013, following a marriage to Arun Nayar and a 13-year romance with Hugh Grant.

She shares a son, Damian, with the late businessman Steve Bing.

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Billy Ray was married to Tish for 29 years before their divorce in 2022 (pictured at the Grammys with daughter Miley in 2019)

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Billy Ray finalized a messy divorce from ex Firerose in August —three months after splitting

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Elizabeth shares her son Damian with her late partner Steve Bing

The insider went on to claim that Elizabeth ‘is good’ for Billy Ray and that he can ‘be himself’ around her.

They added: ‘Despite what people think about this, she is good for him.

‘If she can keep Billy Ray on the straight and narrow, more power to her.

‘The fact that she has such a history with him and met him at a time in his life when he was doing well is a good thing. He can be himself around her.’

However, the source noted that many in Billy Ray’s family ‘feel that Liz is a rebound from Firerose’.

Elizabeth and Billy Ray both shared the PDA-filled photo announcing their relationship to their respective accounts on Sunday.

At the same time, Tish shared her own Easter post and uploaded a snap of her daughter Noah collecting eggs.

It remains unclear when Billy Ray and Elizabeth started dating and when their work relationship turned into something more personal.

While promoting their Christmas film, Elizabeth described the musician as ‘an absolute hoot’ in an interview with the Boston Herald.

And earlier this month, she dropped a big clue about the romance when she uploaded a reel of herself on Instagram frolicking on the beach with Billy Ray’s song She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore playing beneath it and tagging the singer.