A court in Nashville, Tennessee, has ordered an Arizona woman to pay country music star Billy Ray Cyrus more than £7,500 in legal fees. This follows the dismissal of her extraordinary lawsuit claiming she is the biological mother of his daughter, global pop icon Miley Cyrus.
The Bizarre Legal Claim and Swift Dismissal
In a case first revealed by the Daily Mail, Jayme Lee, 45, filed an initial complaint in May 2024. She alleged she gave birth to Miley Cyrus in 1992 when Lee was just 12 years old. Lee claimed she entered a 'private adoption agreement' with Billy Ray Cyrus and his then-wife Tish, which purportedly allowed her to name the child and work as her nanny and piano teacher.
Her lawsuit accused the former couple of breach of contract, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In an amended June filing, she escalated her claims to include 'child abuse and endangerment' for making Miley a public figure. Lee bizarrely attempted to involve celebrities including Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift as defendants or witnesses, and even subpoenaed Swift for an alleged childhood scrapbook.
Billy Ray Cyrus responded forcefully on November 20, filing a motion to dismiss. His lawyer, Chase LanCarte, branded the allegations 'false and absurd' and argued they were designed to harass the family. The Davidson County Circuit Court agreed, dismissing the lawsuit with prejudice on December 5, 2024.
Court Orders Reimbursement of Legal Costs
Following the dismissal, the court ruled on Wednesday, December 17, that Jayme Lee must reimburse Billy Ray Cyrus for his legal expenses. Official court documents obtained by the Daily Mail show the Circuit Court of Davidson County ordered Lee to pay $7,564.13 (approximately £7,500).
The filing stated: 'Defendant Billy Ray Cyrus is entitled to the recovery from Plaintiff Jayme Lee of post-judgment interest on the award of his reasonable and necessary attorney fees and costs.' Billy Ray's legal team had requested this recovery upon the case's dismissal, arguing Lee's actions wasted the court's time and resources.
A Family's Private Life Defended
Billy Ray Cyrus, 64, and Tish Cyrus were married from 1993 until their divorce in 2022. They have always been publicly recognised as Miley's parents, welcoming her in November 1992. The couple share five children: Brandi, Trace, Miley, Braison, and Noah. Billy Ray adopted Brandi and Trace from Tish's previous marriage.
This legal episode concludes a strange attempt to challenge a long-established family history. The court's decision to award costs underscores the view that the claims were without merit. Representatives for Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus were contacted for comment by the Daily Mail following the ruling.
