Billy Ray Cyrusâs son Trace posts emotional open letter: âI barely recognise youâ
Musician and son of the country music star appeared to reference his sisters, including Miley and Noah Cyrus, in a post shared in the wake of Billy Rayâ??s controversial performance at Donald Trumpâ??s Liberty Ball
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Billy Ray Cyrusâs son Trace has shared an emotional open letter to his father, expressing his familyâs concern amid a backlash over the country musicianâs support for Donald Trump.
Billy Ray was among the artists who appeared at the Liberty Ball, as part of the US presidentâs inauguration, attracting controversy due to what many dubbed an âepic disasterâ of a performance.
Posting to Instagram, the singerâs adopted son Trace, also a musician, said he âbarely recognisedâ the man he once knew, claiming Billy Ray had pushed Trace and his other children away.
âSince my earliest memories all I can remember is being obsessed with you and thinking you were the coolest person ever,â Trace, 35, wrote. âI wanted to be just like you. The day you adopted me was the happiest day of my life.
âSadly the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognise now. It seems this world has beaten you down and itâs become obvious to everyone but you.â
Trace acknowledged that his father might be upset with his post but he âreally could care lessâ, adding: âMe and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years but youâve pushed all of us away.
âNoah desperately has wanted you to be a part of her life and you havenât even been there for her. Thatâs your baby girl. She deserves better. Somehow just like me she still idolises you though.â
Billy Ray shares daughters Noah and Miley Cyrus, both singers, with his ex-wife Tish, as well as actor Brandi Cyrus.
âWe are all hanging on to memories of the man we once knew and hoping for the day he returns,â Trace continued. âYouâre not healthy Dad and everyone is noticing it. Just like I showed up for you at mamaws funeral when you didnât expect me to, Iâm still here right now.â
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He appeared to be referencing Billy Rayâs late mother, Ruth Ann Casto, who died in 2022.
Trace said he was writing his message âwith tears in my eyesâ, in the hope that Billy Ray would realise it comes âfrom a place of love and also fear that the world may lose you far too soonâ.
âI love you Dad,â he wrote. âWe havenât talked in a while but Iâm over a year and half clean from alcohol. Guess what? I feel amazing. I donât know what youâre struggling with exactly but I think I have a pretty good idea and Iâd love to help you if you would open up and receive the help. You know how to reach me. Till that day comes I will continue to pray for you.â
Trace added, âAs I write this with tears in my eyes I hope you realize this message only comes from a place of love and also fear that the world may lose you far too soon. I love you Dad.â
âWe havenât talked in a while but Iâm over a year and half clean from alcohol. Guess what? I feel amazing.. I donât know what youâre struggling with exactly but I think I have a pretty good idea & Iâd love to help you if you would open up and receive the help,â he concluded. âYou know how to reach me. Till that day comes I will continue to pray for you.â
Trace Cyrus (left, pictured with sister Miley) shared an open letter to their father Billy Ray ( Getty)
Traceâs post comes after Billy Ray pushed back against criticism of his Liberty Ball performance, sharing a video of himself performing his 1992 hit âAchy Breaky Heartâ to Instagram.
âThis was the most fun part of the Liberty Ball! And if you didnât see it⦠you just had to be there,â he captioned the post.
Billy Ray experienced technical difficulties at the inaugural event and caused consternation by wandering around the stage during a half-hearted rendition of âOld Town Roadâ, his 2019 collaboration with Lil Nas X.
At one point during âAchy Breaky Heartâ, he addressed the sound crew, commenting: âCheck? Is anybody awake? Y'all want me to sing more or you want me to just get the hell off the stage?â
He added: âIn life, when you have technical difficulties, you just gotta keep going, or as President Trump would say, 'You gotta fight.ââ
Billy Ray Cyrus performing at the Liberty Ball on 20 January (REUTERS )
In a statement to People, Billy Ray called his invitation to perform an âhonourâ regardless of the technical issues.
The country singer spoke about his performance on Jan. 21 in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE.
âI had a ball at the Liberty Ball last night and Iâve learned through all these years when the producer says, 'Youâre on,' you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell,â he said.
âI was there for the people and we had a blast. Thatâs called rock n roll!!!â
The Independent has contacted Billy Rayâs representative for comment.