Trace Cyrus says Billy Ray made legal threat after he claimed dad needs help

USA Today

26-01-2025

Trace Cyrus says Billy Ray made legal threat after he claimed dad needs help
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Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose divorce after 8 months of marriage
Billy Ray Cyrus filed for divorce from Firerose last month, just eight months after they tied the knot.
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Trace Cyrus is doubling down on his concerns about his father, Billy Ray Cyrus, despite allegedly facing the threat of legal action.
The 35-year-old son of the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer said Saturday in an Instagram Story that he has not heard from his dad since posting a public message stating he is worried about the country music star's well-being. He posted the message after Billy Ray Cyrus delivered a disastrous performance at President Donald Trump's inaugural ball.
But Billy Ray "did contact a family member to let me know he's taking legal action against me for encouraging him to get help," Trace Cyrus claimed.
"Dad I live 30 minutes away from you," he added. "You could've just come & talked to me like a man."
In a lengthier statement posted on Instagram, the musician suggested that his father has threatened to take legal action but has not done so.
Trace Cyrus: Billy Ray Cyrus' son shares he's 'worried' about dad post-Trump performance
"For you to threaten me with legal action for wanting you to get help is a disgrace," he wrote. "Pappy is looking down at you with such disappointment I can assure you. You should be ashamed of yourself. I will always love you but I no longer respect you as a man."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Billy Ray Cyrus for comment.
Trace Cyrus previously shared a statement Wednesday on Instagram that was written directly to his dad, whom he said he has not talked to "in a while." He said that "me and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years but you've pushed all of us away."
Billy Ray Cyrus has six children, five of whom he shares with ex-wife Tish Cyrus: Brandi Cyrus, 37; Trace Cyrus, 35; Miley Cyrus, 32; Braison Cyrus, 30; and Noah Cyrus, 25. He also shares son Christopher Cody Cyrus with Kristin Luckey.
Miley Cyrus has not commented on her brother's statements.
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Trace Cyrus' original message came days after Billy Ray Cyrus performed at an event following Trump's inauguration. The performance, which was plagued by technical issues and featured Cyrus delivering song lyrics in a shaky-spoken word tone, was widely panned as a disaster.
The singer later told People magazine that he "wouldn't have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not."
In his Wednesday message, Trace Cyrus alleged his father is "not healthy." He said that he was unsure exactly what his dad is "struggling with" but would "love to help you if you would open up and receive the help."
In his latest Instagram posts, Cyrus said he "meant every word I said" in his prior statement, which was "the truth." Underneath a photo taken on Father's Day in 2022, he described this as "the last good day I had with my dad."
Again speaking to his father, Trace also wrote that his original message "was beyond loving," adding, "I could have been extremely honest about a lot more but I don't want to put your business out there like that."
Trace Cyrus' younger brother, Braison Cyrus, announced on Friday that he will produce his dad's latest album, which is set for release this summer.
"I've spent this past year getting to know my dad better than I ever have," he said in a statement. "I've heard stories, jokes and songs that I don't think anyone else has. It's an opportunity to tell my dad's story through music and I'm fortunate to be able to take it. Music, stories and family are the most important things to my dad, so to bring the two together is a full circle endeavor."
Without directly addressing Trace Cyrus' remarks, Braison wrote in an Instagram Story that his father is "happy, healthy and ready to make this record."
In a statement to People magazine, Braison Cyrus also said, "I don't have any bad feelings toward anyone in my family."
Contributing: Anna Kaufman