Billy Ray Cyrus performed at the 2025 inauguration. Then his son wrote him an open letter.

We all know Billy Ray Cyrus for that catchy tune about his achy breaky heart. But these days, it's his relationships with his children that appear to be breaking.

The country singer made headlines after performing at Donald Trump's inaugural Liberty Ball.

Cyrus appeared dishevelled on stage, seemed to lip sync through the song and eventually his guitar either stopped working, or sound engineers cut him off.

A member of the stage crew ushered him off the stage.

The performance was so concerning that his son, Trace Cyrus, felt he had no choice but to speak up publicly about what was really going on behind the scenes.

He decided to publish an emotional open letter, addressed to his dad.

"Since my earliest memories, all I can remember is being obsessed with you and thinking you were the coolest person ever. I wanted to be just like you," he wrote.

"The day you adopted me was the happiest day of my life. Sadly, the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like, I barely recognise now.

"It seems this world has beaten you down and it's become obvious to everyone but you."

Yep, we're already tearing up.

Watch: Billy Ray Cyrus performs at Trump's inaugural Liberty Ball. Post continues below.

According to Trace, the family have been worried about Billy Ray for some time, including his singer-songwriter siblings Miley and Noah Cyrus.

"Noah desperately has wanted you to be a part of her life, and you haven't even been there for her," Trace continued.

"That's your baby girl. She deserves better. Somehow, just like me, she still idolises you though."

He added: "We are all hanging on to memories of the man we once knew and hoping for the day he returns.

"You're not healthy, Dad and everyone is noticing it. Just like I showed up for you at Mamaw's funeral when you didn't expect me to, I'm still here right now."

The personal message ended on a heavy note, with Trace admitting he was writing "with tears in my eyes" and expressing fear that "the world may lose you far too soon."

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So far, Billy Ray hasn't publicly responded to his son's emotional plea.

But it's clear that the family hold concerns about the wellbeing of their beloved father.

Billy Ray Cyrus' relationship with his children.

So, who are Billy Ray Cyrus' multitude of kids?

The country star has quite the crew — six kids in total, including two he adopted. And like any blended family, it's… complicated.

Billy Ray welcomed his first child, Christopher Cody with ex-girlfriend Kristin Luck back in April 1992. Just a few months later, Miley was born — Billy Ray's first child with his second wife, Tish Cyrus. The couple then gave birth to Braison in May 1994 and, finally, Noah in January 2000.

Billy Ray also adopted Brandi and Trace, who were Tish's kids from her previous marriage to Baxter Neal Helson.

Miley Cyrus with her dad, Billy Ray. Image: Getty.

Tish and Billy Ray had always appeared to have a perfect marriage, with their children going on to find success in the entertainment industry.

Miley Cyrus took her fame as Disney's Hannah Montana and turned it into a music career, while her younger sister Noah followed in her footsteps. Trace Cyrus was also in hit 2000's band Metro Station.

Fast-forward to April 2022, and Tish and Billy Ray announced their divorce after nearly 30 years together. The couple said they would "always be family and look forward to a continued and loving shared experience as friends and parents".

But in August that same year, Billy Ray popped the question to Firerose — a singer who, awkwardly enough, is only a few years older than Miley.

As with any divorce, family tensions are expected. But the Cyrus family dynamics took an unexpected turn in August 2023, when Tish married actor Dominic Purcell in a lavish Malibu wedding.

While Miley, Brandi, and Trace showed up to celebrate with mum, Noah and Braison were conspicuously absent.

Instead, Noah shared a photo of herself and Braison at Walmart that day — wearing a Billy Ray Cyrus shirt, no less. Subtle? Not exactly.

Then the rumour mill went into overdrive with whispers that Noah had been involved with Purcell before her mum started dating him. Talk about complicated.

Tish Cyrus, Braison Cyrus, Noah Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Brandi Glenn Cyrus and Miley Cyrus attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. Image: Getty.

In 2023, Miley gave a rare insight into her relationship with her dad during her Hulu special Summer Vacation: Continued (Backyard Sessions), where she admitted the pair had "wildly different" relationships to fame and success.

A year later, Miley was extremely frosty in her Grammy's acceptance speech.

The singer shared a not-so-subtle dig at her father thanking pretty much everyone — "[her] team, Crush, Columbia, [her] mommy, [her] sister, [her] love, [her] main gays because look how good [she looked]" — except Billy Ray.

"I don't think I forgot anyone, but I might've forgotten underwear," she quipped. Ouch.

Per Us Weekly, Billy Ray tried to reach out and congratulate Miley on her Grammy win.

"The kids have chosen sides, but friends are hoping the rift doesn't last forever," a source said.

As for the Billy Ray-Firerose saga? That ended pretty quickly. They divorced in May 2024, just seven months after tying the knot.

In what seemed like an attempt to patch things up, Billy Ray shared a sweet tribute to Miley online in June 2024, recalling some of his "best memories" with his daughter.

"I'm incredibly proud of her. She's a survivor and a true artist. She learned early on to love and appreciate the fans who make everything possible," he wrote.

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Miley appeared on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman just days later, she wasn't exactly gushing about her dad.

"Without my dad… I wouldn't exist… who I am as a person, it wouldn't exist," she said.

"His perspective on reality, and on life, I've inherited from him, more so than the way that I was raised — which really, my mom raised me."

"My mum is my hero."

She added: "My father, I'm grateful for being able to watch him ahead of me. He's almost like given me this map and there's a map of what to do and what not to do. And he's guided me on both.

"I also inherited the narcissism from my father."

Not exactly the highest of praises.

And now it seems the family tensions are even higher, if Trace's letter is anything to go by.

Feature image: Getty.