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Trace Cyrus posted a new statement after speaking out about his father, country star Billy Ray Cyrus, and saying that he and other family members are “genuinely worried” about him. Trace’s original statement arrived just a few days after Billy Ray delivered a performance at the Liberty Ball on President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day that led to social media comments calling the appearance “heartbreaking” and “legitimately concerning.”
Billy Ray adopted Trace, 35, and daughter Brandi Cyrus, 37, when he married their mother, Tish Cyrus, in 1993. Trace remembered that as “the happiest day of my life.” Billy Ray and Tish share son Braison Cyrus, 30, and daughters Miley Cyrus, 32, and Noah Cyrus, 25. Billy Ray is also a father to son Christopher Cody Cyrus, 32, from a previous relationship. Billy Ray and Tish split up in 2022. Tish said in a November 2024 podcast conversation on Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson that she “never wanted to be divorced. …I wanted to make it work, probably for a little too long, like, for my own mental health. There became a point that, like, I didn’t have a choice.” Tish has since remarried actor Dominic Purcell, and Billy Ray has since married and divorced singer-songwriter FIREROSE.
Trace said “my message was beyond loving,” in his latest statement that he posted on Instagram over the weekend. “I could have been extremely honest about a lot more but I don’t want to put your business out there like that. But for you to threaten me with legal action for wanting you to get help is a disgrace. 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.
“Everyone close to you is terrified to tell you how they really feel,” Trace concluded. “I’m not. Get help.”
Trace previously shared a statement saying, in part, that “me and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years but you’ve pushed all of us away. Noah desperately has wanted you to be a part of her life and you haven’t even been there for her. That’s your baby girl. She deserves better. …You’re not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it.” Trace encouraged Billy Ray to “open up and receive the help,” and pledged to continue praying for him.
Braison, on the other hand, has stood by his father’s side as the pair created a father-son record, and said he doesn’t “have any bad feelings toward anyone in my family,” per a statement he shared with PEOPLE.
Billy Ray and Braison announced they’d been working on an album together on Friday (January 24). Braison co-wrote some of the tracks on the album with Billy Ray, and produced the project. Billy Ray said in a statement that “this is art imitating life, imitating art. It starts and ends with art. Braison is very talented and ‘25 is his year. I’m glad to be a part of it. This record is gonna be special. I’m gearing up for what will be the journey of a lifetime.” Braison said he’s “spent this past year getting to know my dad better than I ever have. 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.”