Miley Cyrus has been celebrating her engagement to boyfriend Maxx Morando, but a shocking legal claim has suddenly cast a shadow over the happy news.
A woman from Arizona has filed a lawsuit insisting she is Miley’s true biological mother, and that Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus-Purcell secretly adopted the singer in 1992.
Jayme Lee, 45, claims she gave birth to Miley at twelve years old. She alleges the Cyrus couple entered a “private adoption agreement” that allowed her to pick Miley’s name and later work as the child’s nanny and piano teacher.
Court records obtained by the Daily Mail show Lee accusing Billy Ray of “wrongfully assuming” Miley’s father role and hiding the supposed arrangement. She claims she suffered emotional distress from the alleged deception.
Billy Ray Cyrus has now responded publicly, calling the accusations “false,” “absurd,” and “delusional.”
He says the case exists only to harass his family and waste the court’s time.
Plaintiff Claims Adoption Was Illegal — And Wants DNA Testing
In an amended complaint, Lee alleged that no lawful papers were ever signed. She argues she was a minor and unable to consent, making any adoption invalid.
She even accused Billy Ray and Tish of child endangerment by making Miley a global star, claiming it exposed her to lifelong harm.
Lee says she was cut off from Miley’s life and threatened with police action shortly after the birth.
She asked the court to order supervised DNA maternity and paternity testing for Miley and both parents. Depending on results, she wants the adoption “revisited.”
Her attempts to force a trial were denied, and her summonses to the Cyrus family went unanswered — until recently.
Lee also tried to drag in other major celebrities.
She attempted to list Dolly Parton as a defendant, claiming the country icon knew Miley’s “secret parentage”, she also named Julia Roberts, Hillary Clinton, Neil Patrick Harris, and Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne as “eyewitnesses.”
She even subpoenaed Taylor Swift, demanding the singer return a scrapbook Lee says she made for Miley at age twelve.
Billy Ray Responds — Lawsuit Shut Down by Judge
On November 20, Billy Ray filed a motion to dismiss everything. His legal team argued Tennessee requires a court order for any adoption, making Lee’s entire story impossible under state law.
They also noted that the statute of limitations on both breach of contract and emotional distress claims passed decades ago.
By December 1, Billy Ray’s lawyers filed another response opposing Lee’s amended complaint. He explained he hadn’t even been properly served and only recently became aware of her filings.
On December 5, a Tennessee judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning Lee cannot refile it.
Billy Ray was also awarded attorney fees for the trouble.
His attorney told Daily Mail:
“The Court dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice this morning and awarded Mr. Cyrus the recovery of his reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees and costs.”
Tish Cyrus has not commented on the accusations.
Family History — And Fresh Starts After Their Split
Miley was born Destiny Hope Cyrus in November 1992 as the first child Billy Ray and Tish had together. They later welcomed Braison in 1994, and Noah in 2000.
Billy Ray also adopted Tish’s children Brandi and Trace, while he has a son, Christopher Cody, from a prior relationship.
The couple had a long and complicated marriage with multiple divorce filings before finally splitting for good in April 2022.
They moved forward quickly.
Billy Ray married Australian singer Firerose in October 2023, but filed for divorce seven months later.
Tish married Dominic Purcell in August 2023 at Miley’s Malibu home.
While Miley is enjoying her own stunning engagement moment, the bizarre lawsuit arrived just in time to try and spoil the excitement — only to be shut down swiftly in court.
