Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley Hold Hands on Red Carpet Before Presenting at 2025 CMA Awards

Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley are stateside!

The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer, 64, and the Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery actress, 60, walked their first U.S. red carpet as a couple at the 2025 CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday, November 19. He arrived at Bridgestone Arena wearing a black suit and matching cowboy hat, while she turned heads in a sparkling red gown with a plunging neckline and a keyhole cutout.

While posing for photographers, Cyrus and Hurley looked cozy as they held hands and smiled for the cameras.

Ahead of the ceremony, Cyrus gushed over how excited he was to attend the show with Hurley. “We bonded over our love of all things country, especially country music!!! 🎶 ,” he wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, November 18. “She turned me onto the hit show Nashville and we watched it all summer. Heading downtown to the sights and sounds of the heart of Music City feels like our first date. So excited and honored to be a part of such a special night… and share it with such a special girl. ❤️.”

The Country Music Association announced on Monday, November 17, that Cyrus and Hurley would present at its 59th annual awards show on ABC and Hulu, joining Lady A, LeAnn Rimes, Steve Martin, Billy Bob Thornton and more celebrity guests.

Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson was tapped to host the ceremony solo after sharing her duties with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning last year. Wilson, 33, Megan Moroney and Ella Langley received the most nominations this year, tying with six apiece.

Wednesday marked Cyrus and Hurley’s first American red carpet appearance together, though they previously attended a few events overseas, including their public debut at the opening of the Orizzonti | Rosso exhibition at the Palazzo Barberini in Rome in May.

Cyrus and Hurley met on the set of the 2022 movie Christmas in Paradise, also starring Kelsey Grammer. After reconnecting years later, they revealed their romance in April with an Instagram photo of the country singer kissing the Royals alum on the cheek while celebrating Easter on a farm.

Though the relationship hard launch shocked fans, it did not come as a surprise to the pair’s inner circle. “Her friends have known about it for a while, as it’s not a new thing,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time, adding that Hurley “had sworn them all to secrecy, and they didn’t tell anyone.”

The Gossip Girl alum acknowledged the public’s stunned reaction the following month, telling the New York Post‘s Page Six, “It’s not surprising to me because we’re actually quite similar and get on extremely well. … We both like to laugh a lot, and we both love the country. And we both love country music, both love movies. We’ve got a lot in common — and cowboy boots, definitely.”

Cyrus has been married three times: to songwriter Cindy Smith from 1986 to 1991, talent manager Tish Cyrus from 1993 to 2023 and fellow singer Firerose from 2023 to 2024.

Billy Ray and Tish, 58, share five children — daughters Brandi, 38, Miley, 32, and Noah, 25, and sons Trace, 36, and Braison, 31 — and he also has a son, Christopher, 33, with his ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey.

Hurley, meanwhile, was previously married to textile tycoon Arun Nayar from 2007 to 2011. She also famously dated actor Hugh Grant from 1987 to 2000.

The model has one son, Damian, 23, with late businessman Steve Bing.

“Billy Ray and Liz have both been through a lot in life,” a source exclusively told Us in April of how they connected over previous heartbreaks. “Liz is a very compassionate person, which Billy Ray adores.”