Last week, Billy Ray Cyrus sang monotoned an a cappella rendition of “Achy Breaky Heart” at Trump’s inauguration Liberty Ball. This wasn’t an artistic choice, but the result of “technical difficulties,” including his electric guitar crapping out, which I like to think was a personal protest by the instrument. Anyway, two days after the performance, Billy Ray’s son Trace made a lengthy emotional plea on Instagram for his dad to seek some help because everyone could see how unwell he is. Trace also noted that he had tried to contact Billy Ray privately, but had been rebuffed. Well, the act really touched Billy Ray, and not only have father and son reconnected, but the larger family network is coming together as well. Haha, just kidding. According to updates from Trace on Instagram, Billy Ray’s only response has been to threaten his son with legal action. And the Cyrus Family Chronicles continue!
Trace, the elder brother of Miley Cyrus and Noah Cyrus, posted an Instagram message concerning the Cyrus family on Jan. 22, expressing worry over his father’s well-being. Trace published an Instagram letter again on Jan. 25, saying Billy Ray had threatened him with legal action following the public plea he’d shared for his dad to “get help.”
Billboard reached out to a representative for Billy Ray Cyrus for comment on Saturday.
“Dad my message was beyond loving,” Trace wrote in Saturday’s note to Billy Ray, referencing the public message to his father from a few days ago. “I could have been extremely honest about a lot more but I don’t want to put your business out there like that. But for you to threaten me with legal action for wanting you to get help is a disgrace. Pappy is looking down at you with such disappointment I can assure you. You should be ashamed of yourself. I will always love you but I no longer respect you as a man. Everyone close to you is terrified to tell you how they really feel. I’m not. Get help.”
In an Instagram Story also posted on Saturday, Trace added, “For all of you wondering no I still haven’t heard from my dad. He did contact a family member to let me know he’s taking legal action against me for encouraging him to get help. Dad I live 30 miles away from you. You could’ve just come & talked to me like a man.”
At press time, Billy Ray has not publicly responded to Trace’s statements.
Trace’s initial message to Billy Ray on Wednesday — which had him stating, “You’re not healthy, Dad and everyone is noticing it,” and “As I write this with tears in my eyes, I hope you realize this message only comes from a place of love and also fear that the world may lose you far too soon” — came after Billy Ray’s shaky performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration Liberty Ball on Jan. 20, an appearance that was marred by technical difficulties and eventually had him singing “Achy Breaky Heart” a cappella to the crowd.
Here’s how far we’ve progressed (or regressed, take your pick) as a society: one of my first thoughts was how this would be the opportune moment for the Cyrus clan to pitch a reality series tracking the family factions and attempts at healing. Would it be good and/or therapeutic for them as people? I can’t see how! Unless you count the therapeutic goodness of raking in money. But no, my little idea is only good from a business/ratings standpoint. I gotta say, though, in the one week since “Achy Breaky Heart” caused more family ties to ache and break, the Cyruses have sure been weighing in with responses that could sustain multiple episodes. There are family “sources” who claim all but one of the siblings signed off on Trace’s post, the one out sib being Braison who’s working on a new album with Billy Ray. Other reporting claims Miley doesn’t want to get involved at all (oops, too late?). And wouldn’t you know, Billy Ray’s recent ex-wife Firerose came out of the woodwork to say this incident is what she had to deal with in private while married to Billy Ray. Yikes all around.
So in conclusion, if a Cyrus show actually ends up on Bravo in the near future, then you know who Andy Cohen stole the idea from.
photos credit: Lumeimages/ImageBROKER/Avalon, Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Getty and via Instagram
Billy taking a page from trumps book. If someone makes you feel bad sue them.
My question is what is he going to sue him for?
I am sitting back imagining what it would be like to be a public figure, which therefore gives my family and friends the ability to air their hurts and sorrows in a public way.
Trace could have and may have sent a version of his public message to Billy privately. I’m not surprised he didn’t get a better response. Once you take a family or friend’s inventory publicly, you need to at least be honest with yourself that you are burning a bridge forever.
I will applaud anyone who speaks out about abuse. Like the Chris Noth situation when AJLT aired. But you really have to know that a public statement is an end, not a start. Either Trace didn’t understand that. Or Trace hasn’t admitted to himself that he took advantage of Billy’s momentary notoriety to vent his anger and get maximum burn.
Of these two, I think the latter is more likely.
And again, I stress, sometimes end games need to be played, and the truth needs to be spoken. Sometimes–as with the Sussexes–you need to speak your truth, accept the end, and move forward and construct a meaningful and joyous new life without the ones who hurt you in it.
This is such an accurate summary!
Yes. Trace should be focusing on his own recovery.
🎯
With the added twist that, when one member of a family is has a public profile, that reflects on all of them, to some extent.
I never would have imagined thinking of Trace Cyrus as a mature voice of reason but here we are.
@chaine bc he’s a Cyrus? Past behavior? I know nothing about the kid.
Hot mess relationship with Brenda Song, claiming he would be a music star if not for his family overshadowing him, incel-adjacent persona, public spat with Farrah Abraham and numerous other social media rants and faux pas, and he has had several failed bands. Not to mention, he looks like Miley in a bad wig, is there a reason we have never seen them at the same place together?
Not a very high bar.
And what do you know, Trace has new music coming out, as he mentioned in his most recent post about it 2 days ago. I am not saying that his posts about his dad are real, but this just adds more mess.
Do none of the members of this family know how to deal with their business privately?
I don’t know WHAT you call that mess that BRC served up but the sound guys are TO BE CONGRATULATED for exposing the biggest stars who can’t sing without serious auto tuning/electronic help. *Chef’s kiss to them
Brc & carries performances exposed both of them as utter hacks, in addition to them being sell outs. 🤣