Billy Ray Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus, Oct. 5, 2005.
Background information
Birth name	William Ray Cyrus[1]
Born	August 25, 1961 (1961-08-25) (age 48) Flatwoods, Kentucky, USA
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Genre(s)	Country pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-Songwriter Actor Producer
Instrument(s)	Vocals Acoustic guitar Electric guitar Piano
Years active	1990–present
Label(s)	Mercury Monument Madacy Word/Curb/Warner Bros. New Door/UMe Walt Disney Lyric Street
Associated acts	Miley Cyrus Trace Cyrus Dolly Parton Adam Gregory
Website	Official site

Billy Ray Cyrus (born William Ray Cyrus; August 25, 1961)^[1] is a Grammy Award-nominated American country music singer, songwriter and actor from Flatwoods, Kentucky, best known for his Number One single "Achy Breaky Heart." Cyrus, a multi-platinum selling recording artist, has scored a total of eight top-ten singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. His most successful album to date is the debut of Some Gave All, which has been certified 9× Multi-Platinum in the United States. The album also has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. In his career, he has released 29 charted singles, of which 15 charted in the Top 40.

From the year 2001 to 2004, Cyrus starred in the television show Doc. The show was about a country doctor who moved from Montana to New York City. In late 2005, he also began to co-star in the Disney Channel series, Hannah Montana, with daughter Miley Cyrus. The show has been on the air for three seasons.

Biography

Early life

Cyrus was born to Ron Cyrus, a politician, and his wife, the former Ruth Ann Adkins.^[2] Growing up, he was surrounded by bluegrass and gospel music from his family. His father, a right-handed man, played guitar. Billy Ray on the other hand was left. He tried to play his father's guitar, but could never learn. His grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher. Cyrus went to college at Georgetown College on a baseball scholarship before switching his focus to music. From 1980 to 1990, Cyrus played at bars before getting a record deal with Mercury Nashville Records.

Acting career

Cyrus starred in the 1999 independent film Radical Jack. He also had a small part in David Lynch's 2001 film Mulholland Drive as Gene, a pool cleaner who had been having an affair with the wife of Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux). In 2001, Cyrus played the lead role on the PAX (now ION Television) comedy-drama Doc, which became the network's highest-rated show. In 2005, Cyrus expanded his acting career in a stage production of Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto, appearing in the role of Frank Butler.

Cyrus' television credits include The Nanny, Diagnosis Murder, Love Boat, The Next Wave, and TNN’s 18 Wheels Of Justice. In 2004, he guest-starred as a limo driver in the episode "The Power of Love" of the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. Cyrus has also been the subject of many television specials that detail his rise to fame and his career. These include two ABC documentaries, Dreams Come True and A Year On The Road, a VH1 exclusive, as well as the TNN specials I Give My Heart To You, and The Life and Times of Billy Ray Cyrus. In late 2005, Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus began co-starring in the Disney Channel original television series, Hannah Montana, which premiered on March 24, 2006.

In March 2007, Cyrus joined several other celebrities to take part in the fourth season of the US version of Dancing with the Stars.^[3] He and his partner Karina Smirnoff, were eliminated in the eighth week (May 8, 2007) after having also placed in the "bottom two" the week before.^[4]

Cyrus also stars in Jackie Chan's new movie "The Spy Next Door". It is currently being shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Marriage and children

From 1986 until 1991, Cyrus was married to Cindy Smith, with whom he co-wrote the song "Wher'm I Gonna Live?" and "Some Gave All", which was featured on his 1992 album Some Gave All. On December 28, 1992, he married Leticia "Tish" Finley.^[5][6][7] Together they have three children, daughters Miley (born as Destiny Hope), Noah Lindsey, and son Braison Chance.^[6] He also has two stepchildren, Trace (born 1989) (singer/guitarist for Metro Station) and Brandi (born 1987),^[6] and a son from a previous relationship, Christopher Cody (born 1992).^[6]

In a 2004 interview on ABC News: 'Primetime', Cyrus stated that daughter Miley (conceived with Finley) and son Cody (conceived with an unidentified woman) were both born in 1992, at which time Cyrus was unmarried, and that he and Finley secretly married on December 28 of 1992.^[7]

The family lived on a 500-acre (2.0 km²) farm in Thompson's Station,^[6][5] outside of Nashville, Tennessee before moving to Los Angeles for the filming of Hannah Montana. Cyrus' other daughter, Brandi had a role in a Hannah Montana episode "Yet Another Side of Me" as Customer #1.^[8]

Music career

Some Gave All and It Won't Be the Last (1992-1993)

While trying to get a record deal in Los Angeles, Cyrus was signed to PolyGram/Mercury. He began recording music for his debut album, Some Gave All, which was released in 1992. The album sold over 9 million copies in the U.S. alone, and sold more than 20 million worldwide. Part of the album's success can be attributed to Cyrus's #1 single, "Achy Breaky Heart", which was #1 for 5 weeks. Some Gave All then debuted atop both the Top Country Albums and the Billboard 200, staying at No.1 for 34 and 17 weeks, respectively. Other singles released were "Could've Been Me" (#2), "Where'm I Gonna Live?" (#23), "She's Not Cryin' Anymore" (#6), and the title track charted from unsolicited airplay reaching #52.

In 1993, Cyrus quickly returned with It Won't Be the Last, which went Platinum in the U.S. The album featured the Top 5 single, "In the Heart of a Woman", which peaked at #3. Three more songs were released from the album, "Somebody New", "Words By Heart", and "Talk Some" which peaked at #9, #12, and #63, respectively. It Won't Be the Last debuted at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart, and #3 on the Billboard 200.

Storm in the Heartland and Trail of Tears (1994-1996)

Storm in the Heartland was released in the U.S. in 1994. It was Cyrus' last album from PolyGram because they closed their doors in 1995. When released, it debuted at #11 on the Country chart, and #73 on all-genre chart. The album sold far less than hoped, only managing to go gold. Three singles were released, although only two charted. The title track was the most successful, just missing the Top 30 at #33. "Deja Blue" reached #66 and "One Last Thrill" failed to chart. After the album and single were finished, Cyrus then transferred to Mercury Nashville Records.

Cyrus' most critically acclaimed album was 1996s, Trail of Tears on Mercury Records. The album debuted at #20 on the Country chart when released. Only two songs made the cut to radio, although neither one hit the Top 50. The title track and "Three Little Words" were released reaching #69, and #65 respectively. The album failed to reach any certification, and was on and off the charts after only four weeks.

Shot Full of Love and Southern Rain (1998-2000)

Debuting in the Top 40 was Shot Full of Love in 1998. It debuted and peaked at #32, because the album was released before the only major single was released, "Busy Man", which hit the Top 5. The first single, "Under the Hood", failed to chart, "Time for Letting Go" hit #70, "Busy Man" was #3, and "Give My Heart to You" barely missed the Top 40, at #41. No certification was given.

Southern Rain was released in the year 2000. This would be his only country album until 2006. Five singles were released from this album, "You Won't Be Lonely Now", "We the People", "Burn Down the Trailer Park", "Crazy 'Bout You Baby", and the title track, which managed to all peak at #17, #60, #43, #58, and #45, respectivley. The album debuted at #13 and #102 on the charts, becoming Cyrus' highest entry since Storm in the Heartland. It was also his only album he recorded for Monument Records.

Move to Christian music (2003-2006)

The first of two Christian albums, Time Flies was released in 2003. Not doing so well on the charts, the album only hit #56 on the Country chart, and the only single to chart hit #60. "Bread Alone", "What Else is There", and "Back to Memphis" were released.

Also in 2003, The Other Side was released. Cyrus recorded the album while in Toronto, Canada when he was filming the hit-series, Doc. It was released in October 2003, and peaked at #18 and #131 on the charts. "Always Sixteen", "The Other Side", and "Face of God" were released while they only hit the Top 50. The album also crossed over to the Christian Music Charts, hitting the Top 5. Billy Ray would be on a chart hiatus until 2006.

Return to country music (2006)

Billy Ray Cyrus singing at the Spirit of America tour.

Wanna Be Your Joe was Billy Ray's first country album since 2000. As his previous albums, it was recorded on a new label, New Door/UMe Records. While filming the show, Hannah Montana, he released Wanna Be Your Joe in August 2006. Debuting at #24, the album sold well, but no hit single was ever released. The only single released, however, was the title track, which was ignored by country radio.

Also in 2006, Billy Ray appeared with metal-rock group, Metal Skool, and performed several of Cyrus' songs including "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol, and "I Want My Mullet Back", which appears on Wanna Be Your Joe.^[9]

He also sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at Game 5 of the 2006 World Series in St. Louis, Missouri.

Home at Last and Back to Tennessee (2007-present)

In Spring 2007, Cyrus appeared as a celebrity on the U.S. show Dancing With the Stars. His partner, Karina Smirnoff, made it to the semi-finale and finished in 5th place. From his exposure on Dancing, Walt Disney Records pushed the release of his new album up a month. Home at Last was released on July 24, 2007 and debuted at #3 (Billy Ray's return to the Top 5 since It Won't Be the Last) selling about 30,000 copies in its first week. The album sold very well. One single was released, however, it was re-released with Cyrus' daughter, Miley Cyrus. "Ready, Set, Don't Go" was first recorded and released as a solo song, reached #33, but the duet with Miley increased the song's airplay and got the song to reach #4 on the Country chart, giving Billy Ray his first Top 5 single since "Busy Man" in late 1998-early 1999.

In mid-2008, Cyrus' website confirmed that he would be releasing a new studio album on Lyric Street Records, entitled Back to Tennessee. Originally the album was scheduled to be released on October 21, the album was pushed to a new release of November 18, and now a new date is set for January 13, 2009^[10]. The first single "Somebody Said a Prayer" entered the charts at #53 in early August, and reached #33 on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Back to Tennessee", the title track, will be released as the second single from the album.

Also in 2008, Cyrus was apart of the Disney collection, Country Sings Disney. Two of his songs, "Ready, Set, Don't Go" and the Sheryl Crow penned song, "Real Gone" appeared on the album. Billy Ray's version of "Real Gone" was also made into a music video that is now in rotation on both CMT and GAC; the song will also appear on his upcoming studio album, Back to Tennessee.

On November 12, Billy Ray and Miley presented the "Song of the Year" award at the 42nd Annual Country Music Association Awards. Prior to the award show, both Billy Ray and Miley performed on Good Morning America.

Awards

The following table lists all awards, nominations and wins from Billy Ray Cyrus.

Discography

For a list of albums and singles, see Billy Ray Cyrus discography.

Film and television

Film

Television

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the United States
• List of number-one hits (United States)

Further reading

• Kingsbury, Paul. (1998). "Billy Ray Cyrus". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 123-4.

References

External links

• Billy Ray Cyrus official website
• Billy Ray Cyrus CMT website
• Billy Ray Cyrus at the Internet Movie Database
• Billy Ray Cyrus at Allmusic