Rumored reasons for Billy Ray Cyrus' divorce weren’t far from the truth

What’s the real reason behind Billy Ray Cyrus’s divorce?

Why did Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus, the parents of teen star Miley Cyrus, suddenly decide to go their separate ways after being married for almost 17 years?

On the divorce papers, Billy Ray, who initiated the divorce, listed irreconcilable differences as the cause.

But, as with any celebrity scandal, rumors were rampant, and there was a great deal of speculation as to the real reason why Billy Ray Cyrus filed for divorce.

Of the reasons that were discussed in the media; three, in particular, stood out.

1.         Infidelity

2.         Miley Cyrus’s success

3.         A family dispute over Miley’s behavior

Although the first rumored reasons for Billy Ray’s divorce was quickly denied, recent developments now suggest that the second and third reasons given for Billy Ray’s divorce may not have been far from the truth.

Let’s take a closer look at all three reasons below, and see why two of them may have some basis in the truth.

Reason #1 – Infidelity

Shortly after Billy Ray Cyrus filed for divorce, Us magazine reported that he did so because Tish Cyrus and Bret Michaels had an affair. See Did an Affair between Bret Michaels and Miley Cyrus’s Mom, Tish Make Billy Ray File for Divorce?

A number of media outlets reported that Bret and Tish became romantically involved while Bret and Miley were collaborating on their duet “Nothing to Lose.”

According to the rumors, when Billy Ray found out about Tish’s affair with Bret, he filed for divorce.

But both Bret and Tish denied having an affair, and this rumor was put to rest.

Reason #2 – Miley Cyrus’s success

Based on information from people close to Miley Cyrus, industry insiders, and friends of Tish and Billy Ray, several media outlets reported that Miley Cyrus’s successful career was a major contributing factor to Billy Ray Cyrus filing for divorce.

There were numerous reports that Miley’s success was responsible for her parents’ pending divorce, and it became clear that on some level Miley even blamed herself. See Miley Cyrus Blames Her Success for Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus’ Divorce

A friend of Miley told Popeater that in the course of making Miley a success, Billy Rayand Tish went from being loving partners and parents to business managers, devoting all their time and attention on Miley’s career, often forgetting to focus on each other.

Obviously Tish and Billy Ray’s efforts were successful because last year Miley Cyrus was the highest earning teenager in the United States. She earned $48 million, and ranked #18 on Forbes annual list of Hollywood's 20 Highest Earners for 2010

Tish and Billy Ray were so focused on making Miley a success, that as a couple, they grew apart.

Click here to see a slideshow with photos of Miley Cyrus

Both industry insiders and family friends seemed to agree that once Miley’s parents had achieved their goal of making their daughter rich and famous, they had nothing to work towards anymore, and nothing to keep them together.

In Billy Ray Cyrus’s now famous interview in GQ magazine, he accused Disney’s Hannah Montana series of destroying his family, and expressed regret that he’d allowed Miley to star in the show. See Billy Ray Cyrus Says Miley Cyrus’ Hannah Montana Role Destroyed Their Family

“I’d take it back in a second, Billy Ray said. “For my family to be here and just be everybody okay, safe and sound and happy and normal, would have been fantastic.”

Billy Ray said, Hannah Montana drove a wedge between his family, and was a major contributing factor to his divorce.

In fact, even Billy Ray’s GQ interview about Hannah Montana, caused a rift in his family, because Miley Cyrus is furious with her father for openly bashing the show. See Why Miley Cyrus is so Angry at Billy Ray Cyrus about His GQ Interview

Reason #3 - family disputes over Miley’s behavior

A family dispute over Miley’s behavior was the third rumored reason for Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus’s divorce.

According to a story in the National Enquirer, a confrontation occurred when Billy Ray grounded Miley for talking back to him, and Tish intervened and gave Miley permission to go out. According to the National Enquirer, Billy Ray flew into a rage when he learned that his efforts to discipline Miley had been undermined.

The National Enquirer’s story of an alleged fight between Miley Cyrus’ parents over Miley’s discipline was dismissed as a rumor. But that story may have been the tip of the iceberg

Miley’s spokesperson said the incident never occurred. But in retrospect, the story in the National Enquirer story may have been an exaggerated or sensationalized version of what actually may have taken place.

At the root of third rumor is Billy Ray Cyrus’ concern over some of Miley’s out-of-control behavior of the past few months. See Miley Cyrus Flashes Her Boobs to Stop Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus' Divorce

Miley’s reputation went from sweet to scandalous, almost overnight.

Click here to see SLIDESHOW of some of Miley’s scandalous behavior

Many attributed Miley’s behavior to Miley “acting out” to get her parents’ attention and /or stop their divorce. See Did Miley Cyrus’ Wild Behavior Stop Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus’ Divorce? and Miley Cyrus Flashes Her Boobs to Stop Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus' Divorce

However, it now appears that some of Miley’s antics may have been a calculated move on the part Miley and her managers, to facilitate Miley’s transition from her squeaky clean Hannah Montana image to an image a bit more mature.

Click here to see SLIDESHOW entitled Miley Cyrus All Grown Up – No More Hannah Montana

NOTE: Though Miley Cyrus has other managers, Tish Cyrus is Miley’s personal manager.

Miley began dressing more seductively, and her onstage performances have become more controversial and sexually charged. But things seem to have gone overboard. And apparently Billy Ray Cyrus did not approve.

In his GQ interview Billy Ray said he was repeatedly made to be the fall guy for much of Miley’s scandalous behavior and some of her controversial pranks.

Billy Ray accepts the blame for Miley’s increasingly scandalous behavior, because he feels that as Miley’s father, he should not have waited so long to intercede. “I should have said, ‘Enough is enough,”

Click here to see slideshow of Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus, and their close father-daughter relationship over the years.

When Billy Ray finally decided to take a stand, regarding some of Miley’s behavior, Miley’s managers told him it wasn’t his business, and not-so-politely asked him to bow out.

This may have put Billy Ray at odds with Tish on certain matters, hence the family disputes.

Working to Mend his Family

Though Billy Ray has expressed regrets over many of the things he said in his GQ interview, his comments have shed some light on what happening with the Cyrus family behind the scenes.

He recognizes that some of his comments were explosive, but says they were unintentionally so, and wants to devote his time and attention mending his family.

While Billy Ray has not made any further comments on his pending divorce, he did make the following comment in a recent interview with People magazine:

"My family is the most important thing I have, and we are working together to make sure our future is stronger and healthier."

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Ruth Houston is a New York-based infidelity expert who is frequently called on by the media to comment on high profile infidelity and popular infidelity issues in the news. She is the founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com, the author of Is He Cheating on You? - 829 Telltale Signs, and publishes the Infidelity News and Views blog. To interview infidelity expert Ruth Houston, or have her speak at your next event, call 718 592-6029 or e-mail InfidelityExpert@gmail.com

For more articles on Miley Cyrus, or Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus’ divorce, see:

Why Miley Cyrus is so Angry at Billy Ray Cyrus about His GQ Interview +slideshow

Miley Cyrus Breaks Her Silence on Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus Divorce + slideshow

Billy Ray Cyrus Says Miley Cyrus’ Hannah Montana Role Destroyed Their Family + slideshow

Miley Cyrus a Bad Teen Role Model Since Billy Ray Cyrus Filed for Divorce + slideshow

Miley Cyrus’ Wild Behavior Got Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus Back Together Again

Did Miley Cyrus’ Wild Behavior Stop Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus’ Divorce? + slideshow

Miley Cyrus Flashes Her Boobs to Stop Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus' Divorce + pictures

Billy Ray Cyrus Not Ready to Discuss if the Reason for His Divorce was an Affair

Miley Cyrus Blames Her Success for Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus’ Divorce

Miley Cyrus Has Been Partying Hard to Cope with Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus’ Divorce

Did an Affair between Bret Michaels and Miley Cyrus’s Mom, Tish Make Billy Ray File for Divorce?