Billy Ray Cyrus’ son Trace made a dramatic plea to his father just days after his “trainwreck” performance at the Liberty Ball during Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
The 63-year-old Achy Breaky Heart singer took to the stage at the Washington Convention Center, which was plagued by technical difficulties, prompting the star to improvise and perform a cappella at some points.
In another instance, his silhouette could be seen moving across the stage as music played in the background, prompting social media users to label the situation as “downright embarrassing.”
Cyrus has since pushed the awkward performance aside, writing on Instagram that “you just had to be there” and that he “wouldn’t have missed the honor” of performing at the ball.
However, his son Trace Cyrus, 35, has now taken to his own Instagram account to express his concern for his father, writing that he ‘barely recognizes’ him.
The musician also added a throwback photo when he was younger as he excitedly stood on stage with Billy.
Billy Ray Cyrus’ son Trace, 35, made a dramatic plea to his father, 63, just days after his “train wreck” performance at the Liberty Ball during Trump’s inauguration on Monday (seen above)
“Since my earliest memories, all I remember is being obsessed with you and thinking you were the coolest person ever. I wanted to be just like you. The day you adopted me was the happiest day of my life.”
Trace – the former backing vocalist and guitarist for Metro Station – is the son of Tish Cyrus and Bexter Neal Helson. At the age of four, Billy notably adopted him during his marriage to Tish, which ended in 2022.
‘Unfortunately the man I wanted so badly to be, just as I hardly recognize him now. It seems this world has failed you and it has become obvious to everyone but you.”
“You may be mad at me for posting this, but I really don’t care at this point. “Me and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years, but you pushed us all away,” he added about his siblings, including Miley Cyrus.
Trace further wrote, “Noah really wanted you to be a part of her life, but you haven’t even been there for her.”
“That’s your little girl. She deserves better. Somehow, like me, she still idolizes you.”
Last year in February, a source said People that Noah had remained “close” to her father following his divorce from Tish after 30 years of marriage.
“Noah is very loyal to Billy Ray. She and Billy Ray have always had a very close relationship,” the insider said at the time.

The musician also added a throwback photo when he was younger as he excitedly stood on stage with Billy

‘Unfortunately the man I wanted so badly to be, just as I hardly recognize him now. It seems this world has defeated you and it has become clear to everyone but you,” he wrote

“Me and the girls have been genuinely concerned about you for years, but you pushed us all away,” he added of his siblings — including Miley Cyrus; Trace (far left) seen with Miley, mom Tish and Brandi in 2019 in Las Vegas
In his post, Trace also added, “We all hold on to the memories of the man we once knew and hope for the day he returns. You’re not healthy daddy and everyone notices it.’
“Just like I showed up for you at Mom’s funeral when you didn’t expect me to, I’m still here now.”
The guitarist continued emotionally: ‘I hope you realize that this message only comes from a place of love and that you are also afraid that the world will lose you far too soon. I love you, daddy.’
Trace then revealed that he has been sober for over a year, writing, “We haven’t talked in a while, but I have been alcohol free for over a year and a half. Guess what? I feel great..’
“I don’t know what exactly you’re struggling with, but I think I have a pretty good idea and I’d like to help you if you open up and get help. You know how to reach me. Until that day, I will continue to pray for you.”
Billy is father to Trace, as well as Miley, 32, Noah, 25, Brandi, 37, and Braison, 30 – whom he shares with Tish. He also welcomed son Christopher, 32, with ex Kristin Luckey.
In 2023, Cyrus married Firerose, but the following year he filed for divorce in May 2024. The divorce was finalized three months later.
During an interview with Stellar magazine last fall, Firerose reflected on the tumultuous breakup. After the divorce proceedings, she walked away with $0.

In his post, Trace also added, “We all hold on to the memories of the man we once knew and hope for the day he returns. You are not healthy, daddy and everyone notices it’

In 2023, Cyrus married Firerose, but the following year he filed for divorce in May 2024. The divorce was finalized three months later.
‘I couldn’t have seen ten years into the future. “When I think about what I just went through, I would have told my 22-year-old self to run in the opposite direction and never look back,” she said.
Trace’s latest post comes just two days after his father Billy performed at the Liberty Ball during Trump’s inauguration – which was later labeled a “train wreck.”
However, the singer said it didn’t bother him as his outing was plagued by technical mishaps as he improvised and sang a cappella in a bid to save the doomed set.
“This was the best part of the Liberty Ball!” the country singer-songwriter wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
Cyrus’ post was accompanied by a clip of the gravelly-voiced singer performing his signature 1992 hit Achy Breaky Heart without any backup musicians at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
The Flatwoods, Kentucky, resident said that “if you didn’t see it… you just had to be there” during his outing celebrating President Donald Trump’s inauguration.”
He ended his message with a lyric from his early 1990s breakthrough hit, saying, “I just don’t think you understand.”
Billy said in a post on the social media site on Tuesday: “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. “I had a ball at the Liberty Ball last night and I’ve learned through all these years that when the producer says, ‘You’re busy,’ you have to entertain the people, even if the equipment breaks.”

Trace’s latest post comes just two days after his father Billy performed at the Liberty Ball during Trump’s inauguration – which was later labeled a ‘train wreck; seen on Monday in Washington DC

The Flatwoods, Kentucky, resident said that “if you didn’t see it… you just had to be there” during his outing to celebrate President Donald Trump’s inauguration

Billy said in a post to the social media site on Tuesday: “I wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not.”
The musical artist said he was “there for the people and we had a blast,” adding, “that’s called rock ‘n’ roll!!!”
During his outing Monday, Cyrus could be heard discussing technical issues with the stage crew after a performance of the song Old Town Road.
Cyrus was heard saying, “Is my guitar still on? I think they cut me off. I can’t hear my guitar anymore.’
Cyrus at one point gestured to his guitar and asked the crew members, “Is anyone awake?”
He continued, “I don’t hear it? Do you hear it? Is there anyone behind there? Can someone turn my guitar back on? We’re going to sing some more.’
At one point, a frustrated Cyrus admitted that he was losing interest in continuing to perform. “Do you all want me to sing more, or do you just want me to go on stage?” he said. ‘I don’t give ad**n.’
After a technician resolved the situation, Cyrus turned to the commander-in-chief and said, “If you’re having technical problems, you just gotta keep going — or as President Trump would say, you gotta fight!”
In another awkward sequence, Cyrus’ silhouette was seen walking around the stage as music played behind him. “That’s just embarrassing,” said one social media user. “What, Milli Vanilli wasn’t available?”
Social media users seemed disappointed with the technically hindered performance in their feedback.

Cyrus at one point gestured to his guitar and asked the crew members, “Is anyone awake?”

Social media users seemed disappointed with the technically hindered performance in their feedback


One user called the outing “possibly the creepiest minutes in entertainment history.”
Another said it was “so embarrassing” to watch Cyrus “give a trainwreck performance” on Monday because he was “obviously lip-syncing” and looked sloppy.
The user noted that it looked like Cyrus was “bizarrely wandering around the stage,” adding, “How embarrassing for him.”
The nature of the criticism of Cyrus for his outing Monday did not appear to be politically driven, as supporters of the new president insulted him.