Health

“Y’all want me to sing more, or you want me to just get the hell off the stage?” This was the statement Billy Ray Cyrus made on stage during his performance at President Donald Trump’s Liberty Ball on January 20, 2025. The country singer, 63, appeared to face major technical difficulties when he was performing, leaving the audience confused and concerned. Despite the setbacks, Cyrus made it clear he was there to honor the invitation extended by President Trump, saying he wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing at the event whether his microphone, guitar, and monitors worked or not. While this seemed worrying yet commendable, his son Trace Cyrus has expressed concern over his father’s health. He took to social media after the awkward performance and penned an emotional letter to his father. Apart from Trace, many fans also flooded the internet to talk about Billy Ray Cyrus’ performance. Billy Ray Cyrus appeared confused and unwell during his performance View this post on Instagram A post shared by Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) Cyrus’ performance started with a rendition of “Old Town Road,” in which he quietly sang his part while an onscreen video of rapper Lil Nas X played. However, things started to fall apart as he attempted to perform his breakout 1992 hit “Achy Breaky Heart.” The country star faced issues with his guitar and microphone, which led to a strange, confused performance. Cyrus was seen walking around the stage without a backing track. He even removed his microphone from its stand and snapped his fingers while speaking the lyrics instead of singing them. At one point, he quipped, “Check? Is anybody awake?” and looked backstage for help. CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE, Billy Ray Cyrus, 2022. © Lionsgate Home Entertainment /Courtesy Everett Collection Despite the technical difficulties, Cyrus tried to keep the energy alive, that was when he asked if the audience wanted him to sing more or get off the stage. The singer did not give up, he continued his performance without a guitar. Later, he posted to social media, saying, “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.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trace Cyrus (@tracecyrus) Trace Cyrus revealed his father is not in good health While the singer tried to deal with the situation humorously, the performance drew mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing confusion and others openly mocking the awkward moment. On social media, one user described the performance as “possibly, the cringiest few minutes in entertainment history,” while another called it “a crime.” However, it was Billy Ray’s son, Trace Cyrus, who made headlines with his own response. Trace shared a message on social media, expressing concern over his father’s health and his recent behavior. “Since my earliest memories, all I can remember is being obsessed with you and thinking you were the coolest person ever," he wrote. "Sadly, the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like, I barely recognize now.” Billy Ray Cyrus, February 1993. ph: George Lange / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection In his post, Trace also mentioned how he believed his father was struggling with something beyond just the technical difficulties on stage. “You’re not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it,” he wrote. He added that he would love to help his father with whatever he's struggling with. The message ended with “We haven’t talked in a while, but I’m over a year and half clean from alcohol. Guess what? I feel amazing.” Through his performance and Trace’s public message, it’s clear that Billy Ray Cyrus is struggling. Fans and family are hoping for a healthier and better future for him.