Country music star Billy Ray Cyrus defended performing for presidents on both sides of the aisle, saying in a recent interview that leading the nation is “a tough job” and that he prays for the current commander-in-chief.
Mr. Cyrus, 64, made the comments to Sky News in a Tuesday interview, saying he has no intention of drawing party lines when it comes to performing for U.S. presidents.
“Being president is a tough job,” Mr. Cyrus said. “I pray for our country, I pray for our president, and I pray for our world.”
The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer said his outlook stems from advice given to him by his late father, Ron Cyrus, a Democrat who served in the Kentucky House of Representatives for 11 consecutive terms before his death in 2006.
“My dad was a Democrat and served in the Kentucky legislature for over 20 years,” Mr. Cyrus told Sky News. “But my dad always said, ’When the president asks you to do something, you do it, son.’”
Mr. Cyrus said he has performed under presidents of both parties, citing Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, both George Bushes and Donald Trump.
When asked whether Mr. Trump should be less divisive, Mr. Cyrus declined to weigh in directly. “I can’t speak to his voice — he’s the president,” he said.
The “Old Town Road” collaborator once identified as a Democrat before endorsing Mr. Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign. He performed at the Liberty Ball in January 2025 following Mr. Trump’s second inauguration, a set that drew criticism online after Mr. Cyrus experienced technical difficulties and largely watched a music video play behind him rather than performing live. One social media user called it “possibly the cringiest few minutes in entertainment history,” according to USA Today.
The day after the performance, Mr. Cyrus issued a statement to People magazine brushing off the technical troubles.
“I wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not,” he said. “I was there because President Donald J. Trump invited me.”
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