Billy Ray Cyrus is feeling nostalgic. On Friday, June 7, the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer shared a throwback photo of him and Miley Cyrus on Instagram in honor of CMA Fest 2024. The picture showed the country star embracing his daughter as a baby at the annual music event nearly three decades ago. Alongside his post, Billy Ray wrote a heartfelt message for Miley expressing his pride over her as an artist.
He began:
One of my best memories ever: @cma Fest, back when it was Fan Fair. That’s @mileycyrus and me, surrounded by thousands of incredible fans at the fairgrounds.
Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray revealed that someone at the festival surprised him with that picture of him and Miley. He was so moved by the image that he was inspired to write a two-page poem, which he attached to his Instagram post. In his letter, Billy Ray gushed over “the moment” of Miley watching him perform on stage. He also showed love for his daughter in his message by calling her his “princess.”
Now that she’s all grown up, he can’t help but be proud of both the woman and artist she’s become. In his caption, Billy Ray wrote:
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. We both cherish the connection we have with our fans and are grateful for every single one of you!
Billy Ray Cyrus
What Happened Between Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus?
Interestingly, Billy Ray’s message comes amid rumors of a Cyrus family feud. According to E! News, the rift happened shortly after Tish Cyrus filed for divorce from Billy Ray in April 2022. Due to her parents’ separation, Miley has reportedly become estranged from her father in recent years. A source told the publication:
The divorce between her parents have put a strain on her relationship with her dad and it’s been hard to connect with him in the last year.
E! News Source
Although she’s grown distant from Billy Ray, Miley has continued to remain “very close” with her mother following her parents’ split. That proved to be true when Miley attended Tish’s wedding to actor Dominic Purcell in August 2023. Meanwhile, she was not seen at her dad’s nuptials to singer Firerose that October.
