Billy Ray Gushes Over Daughter Miley Cyrus’ Engagement To Liam Hemsworth

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have been pretty efficient in keeping their rekindled romance a private affair, but now that the cat’s out of the bag, everyone, including Miley’s own father, Billy Ray, has something to say about the impending engagement.

In a recent interview, Billy Ray Cyrus not only gave his blessing to the happy couple, but as much as offered to officiate over Cyrus’ future wedding to Liam Hemsworth.

Billy Ray Cyrus Welcomes Liam Hemsworth Into The Fold With Open Arms

Billy Ray Cyrus appeared as a guest on Today this past Wednesday, and while he was there to promote his show, Still the King, Billy couldn’t resist gushing over Miley’s relationship with Liam, confirming the long-rumored news that the two reunited lovers are engaged. Mr. Cyrus was overjoyed, as he revealed that Miley and Hemsworth were both very happy together and had successfully gotten their relationship back on track.

“They know if they need a preacher, they’ve found one,” Cyrus joked, hinting that wedding plans for Liam and Miley might not be too far off.

Billy Ray plays a pastor on his new CMT series, but he also revealed that there have been real men of the cloth in his family. Billy says his own grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher.

Publicly, neither Miley Cyrus, nor Liam Hemsworth have officially confirmed that their engagement has been renewed, following the most recent renewal of their relationship. Liam, now 26-years-old, first proposed to 23-year-old Miley in 2012, but the couple broke it off four months later. Hemsworth and Cyrus remained close and reunited in 2015, though they tried to play it close to the vest and keep only close friends and family in the know.

Ms. Cyrus accompanied Hemsworth back to his homeland of Australia this past holiday season, and Liam and Miley celebrated New Year’s Eve by renewing their engagement, according to sources close to the couple. The pair reportedly plan on an Australian wedding, though few details have yet been revealed.

The Hunger Games Star Liam Hemsworth Tries To Keep His Relationship With Miley Cyrus Private

Some celebrities aren’t concerned with what the public knows about their personal lives, but others, like Liam Hemsworth, prefer to maintain as much privacy as possible, insisting that there must be a division between their public lives and their personal existences. It’s certainly understandable, particularly when one is trying to make a go of a formerly troubled relationship, such as has been the case with Hemsworth and fiancée Miley Cyrus. Still, Liam admits that such things can’t be kept secret for very long.

“People will figure it out, they already have,” Hemsworth says. “They’re not dumb.”

Speaking of their famous break-up, Hemsworth said the separation between Ms. Cyrus and himself was much needed at that point in their maturity. The actor says both he and Miley needed the break to work on their careers and to really come to terms with what they each wanted from a relationship. The split seems to have worked to their advantage, bringing Liam and Miley back together in a stronger relationship.

Now, as they again prepare to wed, Hemsworth and Cyrus understand what the other expects of them in their relationship and in their public images. The most obvious example of this is the way in which Miley Cyrus has toned down her high profile antics since reuniting with Liam. For his part, Hemsworth won’t talk out of turn and insists on keeping his privacy.

“Look, my private life is my private life and, you know, it’s important to me to keep it private,” Hemsworth said.

The actor says that he doesn’t read the tabloids and pays no attention whatsoever to what may be said about Miley Cyrus and himself.

“I used to, but what’s the point? Everything that is written is made up. They don’t know. They don’t know what’s going on. Story after story gets made up and that’s all they can write, but they don’t know.”

[Image by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Viacom]