Some singers are getting blasted because of the political figures they align themselves with or even just perform for. Carrie Underwood is a good example of that. She is still being raked over the coals for singing at the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025. Billy Ray Cyrus has a take on the whole touchy matter that bears listening to. Cyrus also performed for President Trump at the inauguration. He spoke to Sky News on April 14 and explained his reasoning for saying "yes" when he was invited to sing at the historic occasion.
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Cyrus, 64, shared, "My dad was a Democrat and served in the Kentucky legislature for over 20 years. But my dad always said, 'When the president asks you to do something, you do it, son.'" So it's not who holds the office, but having respect for the office itself.
Cyrus Performed for Democrats and Republicans
The "Achy Breaky Heart" crooner added, "So I've had both democratic and republican presidents. Served with Bill Clinton, with President [Barack] Obama, Mr. [George W.] Bush, Mr. Bush's dad [George H.W. Bush] and Mr. [Donald] Trump."
After acknowledging that the presidency is "a tough job, " Cyrus poignantly went on to mention this. "I pray for our country. I pray for our president, and I pray for our world."
He Experienced Technical Problems at President Trump's Liberty Ball
Cyrus planned to do "Achy Breaky Heart" for the throng. However per People, his mic and guitar did not cooperate. He spoke the words instead with no musical accompaniment at all, urging the gathering to join in. Switching gears like that of necessity is not easy, especially at a high-profile event. Nevertheless, Cyrus is a pro and he would not let the unexpected glitches stop him.
He said, "Check? Is anybody awake? Y'all want me to sing more or you want me to just get the hell off the stage? In life, when you have technical difficulties, you just gotta keep going, or as President Trump would say, 'You gotta fight.'"
The Singer Critiqued His Gig Afterwards
At the time, Cyrus looked back on his performance with pride and a professional sense of a challenging job well done. Per the outlet, he observed, "I wouldn't have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not. I was there because President Donald J. Trump invited me."
He also noted, "I had a ball at the Liberty Ball last night and I've learned through all these years when the producer says, 'You're on,' you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell. I was there for the people and we had a blast. That's called rock n roll!!!"
