From 1986 to 1991, Cyrus was married to Cindy Smith, with whom he co-wrote the songs "Wher'm I Gonna Live?" and "Some Gave All", both of which were featured on his 1992 debut album Some Gave All.[7]
On December 28, 1993, he married Leticia "Tish" Cyrus, née Finley,[35][36][37][38] (born May 13, 1967).[1] Together they have three children: Miley Ray (born Destiny Hope in 1992), Braison Chance (born 1994), and Noah Lindsey (born 2000). He also has two adopted stepchildren from Finley's previous relationship:[39]Brandi (born 1987); and Trace (born 1989),[39] former singer/guitarist for Metro Station. He also has a son, Christopher Cody (born April 1992), from a previous relationship with Kristin Luckey, who raised him in South Carolina.[40] Cyrus adopted Brandi and Trace when they were young children.[39] In a 2004 interview on ABC News: Primetime, Cyrus stated that daughter Miley (conceived with Finley) and son Christopher (conceived with Luckey) were both born in 1992, at which time Cyrus was unmarried, and that his marriage to Finley the following year when she was pregnant with their son was secret and against his record company's advice.[36]
The family lived on a 500-acre (2.0 km2) farm in Thompson's Station,[41] outside of Nashville, Tennessee before moving to Los Angeles for the filming of Hannah Montana. Cyrus' other daughter Brandi had a role in a Hannah Montana episode "Yet Another Side of Me" as Customer No. 1 and in the season 4 episode "Been Here All Along" as the Guitarist during the military tribute.[42]
On October 26, 2010, Cyrus filed for divorce from his wife in Tennessee, citing irreconcilable differences.[43] In a statement made to People the next day announcing the split, the couple said, "As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family... We are trying to work through some personal matters. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers."[44] However, on March 18, 2011, Cyrus announced on The View that he had dropped the divorce.[45] On June 13, 2013, Tish filed for divorce from Billy Ray after 19 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.[46] However, it was reported in July 2013 that they had gone to couples therapy and rekindled their relationship.[47]