Billy Ray Cyrus and wife Tish announce divorce

The parents of Disney teen sensation Miley Cyrus: Billy Ray and Leticia ‘Tish’ Cyrus are ending their 17-year marriage.

In a statement released Wednesday, the couple said it was “As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family.”

They said they were hoping to “work through some personal matters. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.”

The couple, who were married since December 1992, filed divorce papers in Tennessee citing irreconcilable differences. They had three children together: 17-year-old Miley, 10-year-old Noah, and a son Braison. Tish had two children from a previous marriage, Brandi and Trace, both adapted by the country singer when they were young children.

49-year-old Billy Ray Cyrus was the person behind 1992 hit “Achy Breaky Heart.” He is a member of the advisory board for the PTC, a parent’s advocacy group that reviews content based on its potential harm to children. The same group which criticized her daughter’s effort to shed her teeny-bopper status by flaunting her sexuality in the music videos for her Can’t Be Tamed album.

Tim Winter, President of the Parents Television Council (PTC), said early October, “It is unfortunate that she would participate in such a sexualized video like this one (the video for Who Owns My Heart)”.

Miley reached stardom with a starring role in the Disney TV show Hannah Montana which also featured her dad. She turns 18 in November.