Billy Ray Cyrus recently opened up about his daughter Miley Cyrus, calling her a’survivor’ amid ongoing speculation about their relationship.
Last Friday (June 7), Billy Ray, 62, reminisced about a past CMA Fest, which was formerly known as Fan Fair, by posting a nostalgic photo on Instagram. The image captured a young Miley, now 31, alongside her father surrounded by throngs of fans. Accompanying the snapshot were two pieces of paper, featuring a poem Billy Ray penned inspired by the event.
“One of my best memories ever: @cma Fest, back when it was Fan Fair,” he shared with his 1.8 million followers. “That’s @mileycyrus and me, surrounded by thousands of incredible fans at the fairgrounds. The next day, someone handed me this picture, and I wrote that poem right then on the bus.”
The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer expressed immense pride in his daughter, stating, “She’s a survivor and a true artist. She learned early on to love and appreciate the fans who make everything possible.
“We both cherish the connection we have with our fans and are grateful for every single one of you!” he added. “Hope you all have a great Friday! Now rock the country!!!”
Billy Ray and his former wife Leticia ‘Tish’ Cyrus-Purcell welcomed Miley—originally named Destiny Hope—into the world in 1992. That same year, Billy Ray also became a father to his eldest son, Christopher Cody Cyrus, 32, who was born to Kristin Luckey.
After secretly marrying in 1993, Billy Ray and Tish expanded their family further with the births of Braison Chance Cyrus, 30, and Noah Lindsey Cyrus, 24, in 1994 and 2000, respectively. Additionally, Billy Ray adopted Tish’s two children from a previous relationship—Brandi Glenn Cyrus, 37, and Metro Station’s Trace Demp casey Cyrus, 35.
However, the couple ended their marriage in April 2022 after a separation lasting over two years. Shortly following the divorce, Billy Ray announced his engagement to Australian singer Firerose, who he met during the production of “Hannah Montana.”
The dynamic between Billy Ray and Miley seemed strained when she did not attend his wedding in October 2023, although she was present at her mother’s wedding to “Prison Break” actor Dominic Purcell in Malibu, California.
The speculation regarding their relationship intensified when Miley, during her 2024 Grammy acceptance speech, omitted any mention of her father, instead thanking her mother, sister Brandi, and boyfriend Maxx Morando, 24, for their support.
In a candid 2011 interview with GQ Magazine, Billy Ray lamented the impact of “Hannah Montana” on his family, stating, “I hate to say it, but yes, I [wish the show never happened]. For my family to be here and just everybody okay, safe and sound and happy and normal, would have been fantastic. I’d erase it all in a second if I could.”