Billy Ray Cyrus to Perform at Trump Inaugural Event Amid Family Tensions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Billy Ray Cyrus, the 63-year-old country music star best known for his hit “Achy Breaky Heart,” has been confirmed as one of the performers at President-elect Donald Trump‘s Make America Great Again Victory Rally on Sunday, January 19, 2025. The event, part of the inaugural celebrations, will also feature performances by Carrie Underwood, The Village People, and Kid Rock.

Cyrus’s participation has sparked controversy due to his daughter Miley Cyrus‘s public opposition to Trump. Miley, 32, has previously criticized Trump, calling him a “completely racist, sexist, hateful a**hole” in a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone. Her political views have long been at odds with her father’s, creating tension in their relationship.

Trump, 78, openly mocked Miley during a campaign rally in August 2024, saying, “Billy Ray Cyrus is here. Where is Billy Ray? He’s around here someplace, and he’s great. He’s a conservative guy. I said, ‘How did you get such a liberal daughter? How had that happened, Billy Ray?'”

Social media users reacted strongly to the news of Cyrus’s performance. One user commented, “Slim pickings for this inauguration,” while another wrote, “And then he wonders why she doesn’t want to do anything with him,” referencing the strained relationship between father and daughter. A third user added, “Da*n, they are never reconciling.”

Despite the public rift, Billy Ray has reportedly attempted to reconcile with Miley. A source told People in February 2024, “He’s tried reaching out to Miley many times and congratulated her on her Grammys.” The source added, “The kids have chosen sides, but friends are hoping the rift doesn’t last forever.” Another source revealed that Miley “hasn’t gotten over the disrespect she feels Billy Ray showed Tish and the family,” referring to his ex-wife and Miley’s mother, Tish Cyrus.

The upcoming performance highlights the ongoing divide between the Cyrus family members, with Billy Ray’s decision to participate in the Trump event further complicating their already strained relationship.