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Trace Cyrus responded to a recent statement from his father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who recently said he’s “praying for my family” and wants “healing.”
Trace, 35, shared a post from PEOPLE on his Instagram story with a quote from the Bible: “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Trace added: “Judge a man by his actions. Not his words.”
Billy Ray, 63, shared a clip of his “Somebody Said A Prayer” music video from 2009, featuring Trace, and wrote in his caption on YouTube: “Sunday callin. Giving thanks for the California Rain . Praying for the brokenhearted and their pain. Praying for my family. For my children … sons and daughters…and their mother. Let this moment be the start of healing ❤️🩹 for us all. ‘The past does not equal the future.’ Amen 🙏🏼”
The statement arrived shortly after Trace shared an emotional plea to his father in the aftermath of his “concerning” Liberty Ball performance on President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. Social media commenters deemed the “Achy Breaky Heart” star’s performance “heartbreaking,” “an epic disaster,” “cringe-worthy” and “legitimately concerning.” Billy Ray called out technical difficulties, and said in separate statements that he “wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not,” and “you just had to be there.”
Trace said in an emotional post that the day Billy Ray adopted him “was the happiest day of my life.” Billy Ray adopted Trace and his sister, Brandi Cyrus, 37, when he married their mother, Tish Cyrus, in 1993. Billy Ray and Tish share son Braison Cyrus, 30, and daughters Miley Cyrus, 32, and Noah Cyrus, 25, and Billy Ray is also a father to son Christopher Cody Cyrus, 32, from a previous relationship. Billy Ray and Tish divorced in 2022. She’s since remarried actor Dominic Purcell, and Billy Ray has since married and divorced singer-songwriter FIREROSE. Trace said “the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognize now.”
“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,” Trace wrote, in part. “You’re not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it. …I’d love to help you if you would open up and receive the help. You know how to reach me. Till that day comes I will continue to pray for you.”
Since then, Trace said in another post that his message to his father was “beyond loving,” but Billy Ray, according to Trace, “threaten[ed] me with legal action. …You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Amid what appears to be a father-son rift between Billy Ray and Trace, the country star announced that he teamed up with son Braison on his upcoming album. Braison produced the project and co-wrote some of the tracks with Billy Ray. Billy Ray said in a statement when they announced the project 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 added that 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.”