Dolly Parton Worried Elizabeth Hurley Will Break Billy Ray Cyrus’ Heart

Country queen Dolly Parton’s friendship with love-challenged troubadour Billy Ray Cyrus goes way back, and sources say she’s worried that his new girlfriend, Brit maneater Elizabeth Hurley, will leave him with an Achy Breaky Heart.

Time is of the essence as the unlikely romance seems to be heating up fast.

“Dolly’s worried that Billy Ray is out of his weight class with Liz,” says a source. “For all his faults, she’s still close to him and knows he’s vulnerable and bound to be hurt by this flighty character, who’s the very definition of high maintenance.”

Billy Ray, 63, and Liz, 59, got the internet buzzing by posting an Easter photo of him kissing her on the cheek. Then they shared another picture of them taking a sunset ride in an off-road vehicle.

The two apparently hit it off on the set of the 2022 movie Christmas in Paradise, but it wasn’t until after Billy Ray’s marriage to singer Firerose crashed and burned last year that he and the still-stunning actress started getting romantic.

“It’s just been beautiful,” Billy Ray says of his connection with the Austin Powers star. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been this happy.”

Ironically, the country stud compared Liz to Dolly in a recent interview.

“She’s so impressively brilliant,” he gushed. “She reminds me a lot of Dolly Parton. She’s a very smart businesswoman.”

Billy Ray toured with Dolly, 79, in the early 1990s, and they’ve collaborated on some projects since then. She’s also the godmother of his famous daughter Miley.

“Dolly thinks Billy Ray’s got stars in his eyes by acting like Liz is his Juliet,” shares the insider. “She isn’t one to meddle in someone else’s business, but she’s making an exception in this case.”

Billy Ray is already a three-time loser in marriage. Along with the Firerose catastrophe, he was wed to Tish Cyrus for 28 years before their 2022 divorce and was married to first wife Cindy Smith for five years.

Meanwhile, Liz famously dated Hugh Grant for 13 years and was married to businessman Arun Nayar from 2007 to 2011. She has a son, Damian, 23, with the late Steve Bing.

“Dolly dreads how Billy Ray will handle it if Liz uses him up and spits him out as everyone expects,” says our source. “Liz tends to get infatuated and bored pretty quickly. She can be ruthless, and Dolly is worried that Billy Ray is like putty in her hands.”