Billy Ray Cyrus has made some head-turning headlines in the past, but a recent paternity case is just bizarre. News broke this week that a woman sued the singer claiming she was Miley's real mom. Now that the judge gas thrown out the case, he's asking the she pay him thousands in legal fees, per Us Weekly.
The singer filed court documents on December 10, asking that a woman named Jayme Lee be ordered to cover $7,564.13 for the legal costs he incurred defending himself against her claims.
The lawsuit explained
Billy Ray and Tish welcomed Miley into the world on November 23, 1992, but according to a woman named Jayme Lee, she's the one who actually gave birth to Miley. She filed the original lawsuit in May, alleging that she entered into an agreement with the "Achy Breaky Heart" to adopt her.
According to Lee, the deal allowed her to choose Miley’s name and continue serving as her nanny. However, she claimed that Billy Ray “subsequently took the child and wrongfully assumed the role of the child’s father without [Lee’s] consent,” effectively depriving her of the relationship she believed she was entitled to.
She requested that the court recognize her as Miley’s mother and accused him of breaching their agreement and intentionally causing her emotional distress. Lee also wanted to be awarded damages for the alleged fraud and harm she suffered.
Billy Ray responded to the lawsuit on November 11, calling the claims “false and absurd.” His lawyer described Lee’s case as an attempt to harass the family and waste the court’s time. “The allegations contained within [Lee’s] Complaint are absurd and ridiculous on their face,” the lawyer stated. “As a matter of public record, Miley Cyrus is the daughter of Billy Ray and Tish.” The lawyer added that Lee’s claims are barred and demanded that the lawsuit be thrown out.
The case was dismissed on December 5, according to The Daily Mail. The judge has not yet ruled on Billy Ray’s request for reimbursement of his legal fees, and Lee has not responded to the motion. Chase LanCarte, Billy Ray’s attorney, told Us Weekly, “Now that the Court has dismissed the lawsuit, Mr. Cyrus is focusing his attention on the upcoming Christmas holiday to spend time with family and friends.”
Billy Ray and Tish are also the biological parents of Brazen, 31, and Noah, 25. Billy Ray also adopted Tish’s two other children, Brandi and Trace, during their marriage. The couple said "I do" in 1993 and divorced in 2022. He later married and divorced Firerose, and has found love again with Elizabeth Hurley.