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Billy Ray Cyrus's decision to perform at US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration rally has sparked significant backlash online, with many pointing out the stark political divide between the country singer and his daughter, Miley Cyrus. The performance comes despite Miley’s well-documented criticism of Trump, which she has voiced over the years.
The list of performers for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration events was announced on January 13, 2025. The lineup includes country music star Carrie Underwood, who is set to perform America the Beautiful during the swearing-in ceremony on January 20, 2025, as reported by The Tennessean.
Billy Ray Cyrus, known for hits like Achy Breaky Heart and his feature on Old Town Road, is among the musical acts handpicked by Trump. The inauguration lineup also includes Kid Rock and the Village People.
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Billy Ray Cyrus's choice to perform at Trump's inauguration ceremony has reignited public discussions about the strained relationship between Billy Ray and Miley, which has been marred by personal and political differences.
Fans and critics alike have taken to social media to voice their opinions on Billy Ray's participation in the event, with many expressing sympathy for Miley and frustration with her father.
"I hope Miley has a good support system around her, her parents are awful," a Reddit comment read.
"And then he wonders why she doesn’t want to do anything with him," one Reddit user wrote.
"I guess there goes any chance of reconciliation out the window," another added.
Some fans were particularly critical of Billy Ray’s perceived insensitivity toward Miley's values. Others took the opportunity to dismiss Billy Ray’s relevance outside of his association with Miley.
"Damn they are never reconciling," a Reddit user stated.
"Quite literally the only reason this man is relevant to me is because of Hannah Montana and Old Town Road. MAGA can have this washed-up dude," one Reddit user remarked.
"The type isn’t very new, the has-been who needs all the praise he can get and takes it where he can. It’s not like his children matter. Only he does. It’s gross but not original of him," some other user wrote.
Miley Cyrus's history of criticism against Trump and relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus
Miley Cyrus has been vocal about her dislike for Trump’s policies and rhetoric over the years. In 2016, she called him a "f---ing nightmare" in an Instagram post, criticizing his sexist remarks and divisive politics. Miley has consistently supported Democratic candidates, campaigning for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and celebrating Joe Biden's 2020 victory on social media.
In 2024, she endorsed US Vice President Kamala Harris, reinforcing her opposition to Trump’s leadership. The singer has labeled Trump a "racist, s*xist, hateful a--hole" in a 2019 interview with Vanity Fair.
Trump has also taken public jabs at Miley, including at a campaign rally in August 2024, where Billy Ray was in attendance. Trump reportedly said, as reported by The Express,
"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?"
The political divide is just one layer of the complex relationship between Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley. Reports suggest that their relationship deteriorated further after Billy Ray’s split from Miley’s mother, Tish Cyrus, after nearly 30 years of marriage. Miley reportedly sided with her mother during the separation, causing a rift between her and her father, as reported by Cosmopolitan.
The tension escalated when Billy Ray Cyrus married Australian singer Firerose, who is 25 years his junior. According to Fox News, their marriage ended in divorce after just seven months, following the release of an audio recording in which Billy Ray was heard yelling at Firerose and referring to Miley with derogatory terms.
In November 2024, it was reported by People that Miley had severed ties with Billy Ray Cyrus, with sources indicating that she had no intention of reconciling with him.
