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Billy Ray Cyrus said he’s “praying for my family” days after one of his sons posted that the country star is “not healthy” and urged him to seek help.
Billy Ray, 63, shared a clip from his 2009 music video, “Somebody Said A Prayer,” which featured son Trace Cyrus, now 35. Billy Ray adopted Trace and daughter Brandi Cyrus, 37, when he married their mother, Tish Cyrus, in 1993. Together, Billy Ray and Tish share son Braison Cyrus, 30, and daughters Miley Cyrus, 32, and Noah Cyrus, 25, and Billy Ray is also a father to son Christopher Cody Cyrus, 32, from a previous relationship. Billy Ray and Tish divorced in 2022. Billy Ray wrote in his caption on YouTube:
“Sunday callin. Giving thanks for the California Rain . Praying for the brokenhearted and their pain. Praying for my family. For my children … sons and daughters…and their mother. Let this moment be the start of healing ❤️🩹 for us all. ‘The past does not equal the future.’ Amen 🙏🏼”
Billy Ray’s caption arrives several days after his performance at the Liberty Ball on President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day on January 20. During the performance, Billy Ray walked around the stage saying, “I think they cut me off. …Is anybody awake?” His vocals and guitar were not audible while the “Old Town Road” music video played in the background, and Billy Ray concluded his performance with an a cappella rendition of “Achy Breaky Heart.” Some commenters on social media called it “heartbreaking,” “an epic disaster,” “cringe-worthy” and “legitimately concerning.”
In separate statements, Billy Ray said he “wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not,” and “you just had to be there.”
Trace shared a lengthy statement shortly after the Inauguration Day performance. He said, in part: “Me and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years but you’ve pushed all of us away. …You’re not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it.” Trace urged his father to “open up and receive the help.” Since then, he said his message was “beyond loving,” but Billy Ray, according to Trace, “threaten[ed] me with legal action. …You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Miley has reportedly opted not to involve herself in the “drama,” and Braison said he doesn’t “have any bad feelings toward anyone in my family,” per a statement he shared with PEOPLE.
Braison and Billy Ray recently announced an album they’ve been working on together. Braison produced his father’s upcoming record, and co-wrote some of the tracks with him. Billy Ray said in a statement when they announced the project on Friday (January 24) that “this is art imitating life, imitating art. It starts and ends with art. Braison is very talented and ‘25 is his year. I’m glad to be a part of it. This record is gonna be special. I’m gearing up for what will be the journey of a lifetime.” Braison added that he’s “spent this past year getting to know my dad better than I ever have. I’ve heard stories, jokes and songs that I don’t think anyone else has. It’s an opportunity to tell my dad’s story through music and I’m fortunate to be able to take it. Music, stories and family are the most important things to my dad so to bring the two together is a full circle endeavor.”