Billy Ray Cyrus has revealed that his decision to perform for presidents of both political parties is rooted in a childhood lesson from his father about respecting the position.
Talk with News from the sky On Tuesday (April 14), the 64-year-old singer explained that even though his father was a lifelong Democrat who served in the Kentucky Legislature, he always taught his son that when a president asks for your help, you answer the call.
Cyrus noted that this upbringing led him to work with a long list of leaders on both sides of the aisle, including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George HW and George W. Bush, and most recently, Donald Trump.
The country star, who performed at the Liberty Ball in January 2025 to celebrate Trump’s second inauguration, emphasized that her participation in such events comes from a place of prayer for the country and the world rather than party loyalty.
He described being president as “tough work” and said his goal was to find things that bring people together.
While his performance last year made headlines for the wrong reasons due to major technical difficulties, Cyrus defended his presence at the time, saying he wouldn’t have missed the honor of participating in the event whether his equipment worked or not.
During this 2025 set, Cyrus faced a series of “epic” malfunctions where his microphone and guitar frequently cut out, eventually forcing him to end with an a cappella acoustic version of his signature hit, Broken and painful heart.
He famously challenged the crowd during the show, asking if anyone was still awake and if they wanted them to continue singing or just “get off the stage.”
Despite the “sinking” reception on social media, he remained defiant, telling his fans that in life you have to keep going, or as the president would say, “you have to fight.”
Cyrus was part of a star-studded line-up for the inauguration festivities, including Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Kid Rock.
He noted that even seasoned professionals like Underwood have faced their own technical hurdles during the ceremony, but he believes “rock n roll” is about entertaining people even when the equipment is going to hell.
For Cyrus, performing at such a prestigious event was simply about following his father’s old advice: When the commander in chief invites you on stage, you’re going to do your job for the people.
