Support: Tish Cyrus was comforted by son Braison Chance and daughter Noah as she arrived at a lawyer's office in LA today
Miley Cyrus's siblings are seen here rallying around their mother as it emerged her 17-year marriage to country singer Billy Ray Cyrus is over.
Leticia Cyrus, who goes by the nickname Tish, was comforted by her son Braison, 16, and daughter Noah, 10, as she arrived at a lawyer's office in Los Angeles yesterday.
The 43-year-old blonde, who was not wearing her wedding ring, was showing the strain as she hid her eyes behind dark sunglasses.
Gone: Tish has removed her diamond wedding ring, seen right with a jewellery-free hand and a tattoo on her wedding finger
There was no sign of the 17-year-old Hannah Montana star, who was spotted dining with friends at the Bourgeois Pig restaurant in Los Feliz the night before.
Billy Ray, 49, famous for the 1992 hit Achy Breaky Heart, filed papers today in Tennessee citing irreconcilable differences.
'As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family,' the couple said in a joint statement to People magazine.
'We are trying to work through some personal matters. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.'
Billy Ray is seeking shared custody of the couple's three minor children - Miley, Braison and Noah.
Documents show he is also asking for an 'equitable distribution of the marital estate.'
Family drama: Miley dined with friends at the Bourgeois Pig restaurant in Los Feliz on the eve of her parents' announcement
Showing the strain: Tish appeared to be holding back tears following the news her 17-year marriage is over
Billy Ray adopted Tish's two children from a previous marriage, Trace, 21, now a singer and guitarist, and Brandi, 23.
He also has a son, Christopher Cody, 18, from a previous relationship with Kristin Luckey.
Billy Ray split from Luckey when she was still pregnant with Christopher. By the time they had split, Tish was already pregnant with Miley.
Billy Ray and Tish began dating in 1991 and secretly decided to marry on December 28, 1993, at the singer's home in Nashville, Tennessee.
And the pair decided to keep the ceremony low-key, with Billy Ray wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt and Tish wearing a casual dress over a catsuit.
Billy Ray, who divorced sales representative Cindy Smith in 1991 after five years of marriage, has previously hinted he wasn't sure if the marriage would last.
He said in 2004: 'You know what, this train may come off the tracks, but I'm going to be a dad. I'm going to be a husband, and try to have something in my life that is right.'
All American family: Billy Ray and Tish with (from left) Miley, Brandi, Braison, Trace and Noah (front)
Miley is incredibly close to both of her parents, and said in a recent interview that anyone she goes out with would have to be entirely accepting of her large family.
She explained: 'My parents are a little loco. We have five kids and my mom and dad and my grandpa plus like my 10,000 dogs - so if you love me after you see my lifestyle then you’re good. You’re a keeper.'
Miley became a teen sensation on her Hannah Montana Disney Channel television series.
Country music star Billy Ray also appears on the Hannah Montana TV show and featured heavily in the film spinoff, Hannah Montana: The Movie.
In the show, Miley portrayed Hannah Montana, a normal teenager by day, but really a singing star by night. As the wholesome programme grew in popularity, Cyrus followed in her father's footsteps to build a career as a singer.
The teenager became a huge star for young women and released solid albums such as Best of Both Worlds and Breakout.
Out and about: Tish's daughter, and Billy Ray's stepdaughter, Brandi stepped out in Los Angeles after the announcement
And Miley said it was her father who first inspired her to follow him onto the stage.
She said: 'When I was four, my dad was performing with Aretha Franklin and, even though he made sure I was backstage with the nanny, I wanted to get up there and dance so much that I ran on to the stage. I was passed around all these great artists and Aretha held on to me so tight. All I wanted to do was entertain.'
But as Miley, who turns 18 next month, grew older, she became the subject of some public scorn for sexualizing her squeaky clean image as Hannah Montana first in a racy Vanity Fair photo shoot and then showing some raunchy dance movies in videos.
And now it is Miley's 10-year-old sister Noah who has been causing controversy with a series of revealing outfits in recent years.
Billy Ray, who has staunchly defended his daughters in the face of criticism, broke into the music world with his 1992 hit Achy Breaky Heart.
While several albums and numerous songs followed, Billy Ray seemed destined to be a one-hit wonder.
But he enjoyed a career revival starring alongside his daughter in Hannah Montana.
source:dailymail