Tish Cyrus Opens Up About Personal Struggles

Tish Cyrus shared her experience of “self-medicating” with cannabis following her challenging divorce from Billy Ray Cyrus and the passing of her mother, Loretta Finley.

During a recent episode of “The Squeeze,” she spoke with host Tay Lautner about her marijuana use. “I’ve always had a bit of anxiety,” she explained, “and at that time, it felt somewhat like medicine for me, considering I believe in plant medicine. After losing my mother and going through my divorce, it was almost like I was self-medicating without even realizing it.”

“I think it numbed the pain a little bit,” Tish added, elaborating on the anxiety she felt upon deciding to quit smoking. She recalled how, at that moment, she found herself overwhelmed and unsure of what was happening to her.

Reflecting on the difficulties of that year, Tish, who is 58, described the separation and the loss of her mother as “probably two of the most tragic events” in her life. “I didn’t take the time to process it properly,” she said, admitting it was a particularly “hard” period for her.

Her mother, whom Miley Cyrus affectionately called “Mommy,” passed away in 2020 at the age of 85. “I was incredibly close to her,” Tish remarked, noting that her mother had lived with Miley for a time while she was filming “Hannah Montana.” They maintained a strong bond throughout her life.

“After filming, we even got her a little house right next to ours. She was really involved in our lives,” Tish continued, adding that the close relationship between her mother and Miley made the loss even more profound. “When she died, it felt like everything fell apart, including my marriage.” In April 2022, Tish filed for divorce from Billy Ray following nearly three decades together, citing “irreconcilable differences” and stating they hadn’t lived together since February 2020.

Despite these struggles, Tish attributes much of her healing to therapy. “Starting therapy helped me open up about our lives and our kids. It was pretty enlightening,” she noted.

Since then, she has built a “beautiful relationship” with her new husband, Dominic Purcell, whom she married in August 2023. She described their relationship as “very safe” and devoid of drama, emphasizing how it allowed her to process her emotions.

“It really was painful for me,” she reflected. “Anyone who’s dealt with that level of anxiety knows how awful it can be. I was just trying to survive, but I’m learning to cope better now.” She acknowledged the journey hasn’t been easy but feels like she’s made significant progress.