Billy Ray Cyrus’ Troubled Year: Family Divisions and Concern Over His Health and Behavior

It was painful to watch. On Jan. 20, Billy Ray Cyrus took to the stage at the Liberty Ball in Washington, D.C., to celebrate President Donald Trump’s inauguration and perform. After facing technical difficulties with his microphone and guitar, the bedraggled-looking singer sang a few scratchy verses of his 1992 hit “Achy Breaky Heart” before walking off. “He was behaving strangely,” says a source, “and acting belligerent with his crew.” The appearance sparked concern from fans and from Billy’s son Trace (Billy Ray adopted the 35-year-old, along with his sister Brandi, 37, when he wed ex-wife Tish; the couple also share Miley, 32, Braison, 30, and 25-year-old Noah), who took to social media two days later to express concern over his dad’s health and state of mind. “It seems this world has beaten you down and it’s become obvious to everyone but you,” Trace wrote, adding, “You’re not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it… 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.”

The message was not appreciated. Three days later, Trace went public with his claim that Billy had told a family member he planned to take legal action against his own son “for encouraging him to get help.” It’s just the latest rift for the once close-knit family that has become completely fractured. “Billy Ray’s been estranged from Trace, Brandi, Noah and Miley for quite some time,” a source tells Star, noting that Billy and Tish — who split in 2022, after 28 years of marriage — aren’t on speaking terms either. Miley, meanwhile, is at her wits’ end. “She gave up on her dad years ago,” the source adds. “She hates seeing him this way and is concerned about him like everyone else; but she also knows changes have to come from Billy Ray himself.”

Troubled Star

The problems have been a long time coming. The Kentucky native shot to fame in the early ’90s and enjoyed massive success alongside Miley on Hannah Montana for four seasons between 2006 and 2011. He became so focused on his career and Miley’s trajectory, says the source, he neglected his other kids. “He didn’t have a whole lot of time for them.”

As Miley’s own star began to eclipse his, he struggled — as did his marriage to Tish. He was reportedly unfaithful (“I didn’t even know… how much disrespect there was in my marriage,” Tish said last February, after getting remarried to Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell in August 2023). Both she and Billy Ray filed for divorce over the years before their final split. As Star previously reported, Miley was resentful over how her dad treated Tish. “Miley hasn’t gotten over the disrespect she feels Billy Ray showed Tish and the family,” the source said. Most of the sibs took Tish’s side after the split, and Billy Ray became even more estranged from his kids during his ill-fated seven-month marriage to musician Firerose in 2023. “When Billy hooked up with Firerose, his relationship with his kids was further damaged,” says the source. “Billy Ray can be so stubborn. He can’t seem to understand that he’s part of the problem.” (In their contentious divorce, the Aussie singer claimed that Billy Ray’s “persistent drug use” and marijuana consumption made him “unpredictable and volatile.”)

Rock Bottom

The singer has admitted to substance abuse in the past. “[There] was an excess of alcohol,” he recalled in 2024 of the early days of his career. “It was a pretty rough time.” While he’d quit booze and cocaine, he said, he still allows “a little puff every now and then of marijuana.”

Braison — who’s working on a new album with his father — appears to be the only one on decent terms with Billy, saying Jan. 25, “I don’t have any bad feelings towards anyone in my family.” But his loyalty is causing tension with his siblings, especially Trace. “Braison and Trace may have grown up in the same family, but they each have a different relationship with Billy Ray,” says the source. “Trace thinks Braison’s an enabler and only cares about the new album, and that he should wise up and get their dad some much-needed help.”

Not that they think he’ll listen. “They know Billy Ray probably won’t do anything about his issues until he hits rock bottom,” says the source. “But they pray he gets the help he so desperately needs.”