There's been a lot of concern this week for Billy Ray Cyrus, after the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer delivered a bizarre performance at the Liberty Ball on Monday night to celebrate President Donald Trump's inauguration.
The day before the event, the internet was shocked when Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn shared a photo of herself with Billy Ray, who looked almost unrecognizable (and a lot like Rob Zombie).
And that shock quickly turned to concern when Billy Ray took the stage at the inaugural ball Monday night for a performance that was widely criticized as a "trainwreck" and left viewers scratching their heads.
Billy Ray was clearly lip synching during much of the performance, but when he was singing live, his voice was gravely and nearly unrecognizable. And then it appeared that his equipment malfunctioned, and he began ranting at the tech staff:
"Is my guitar still on? I think they cut me off. Is my guitar on damn it? I don't hear my guitar anymore. Check. Is anybody awake? I don't hear it, do y'all hear this? Where's everybody at. Check. Is anyone back there? Can somebody turn my guitar back on? We're gonna sing a little bit more. Y'all wanna sing more or you want me to just get the hell off the stage? I don't give a damn."
He then decided to just perform "Achy Breaky Heart" acapella, and it was...well, rough.
The performance ended with Billy Ray awkwardly wandering around the stage in the dark and waving at the crowd as his song "Could've Been Me" played, and it appeared that staff finally came out and told him that his time was up.
After the strange performance, people quickly began wondering whether Billy Ray was drunk or on drugs, but the singer released a statement yesterday blaming it on the tech issues:
"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 when the producer says 'you're on,' you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell. I was there for the people and we had a blast. That's called rock and roll!"
I mean, if that's what you want to call it...
But his son apparently doesn't believe that tech issues were entirely to blame for the embarrassing performance.
In a post to his Instagram, Billy Ray's son Trace Cyrus shared a heartfelt open letter to his father begging him to get help and describing the man who adopted him at the age of 13 as someone he barely recognizes.
Trace, who is the son of Billy Ray's ex-wife Tish Cyrus, said that the singer has pushed his family away as they've been "genuinely worried" about him for years, and says that everyone seems to recognize that he needs help except for Billy Ray himself. He ends by assuring his father that his message comes only from a place of love, and offering to help him through his struggles as he begs him to reach out:
"Since my earliest memories all I can 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.
Sadly the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognize now. It seems this world has beaten you down and it's become obvious to everyone but you. You may be upset with me for posting this but I really could care less at this point. 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. Somehow just like me she still idolizes you though.
We are all hanging on to memories of the man we once knew & hoping for the day he returns. You're not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it. Just like I showed up for you at mamaws funeral when you didn't expect me to I'm still here right now.
As I write this with tears in my eyes I hope you realize this message only comes from a place of love and also fear that the world may lose you far too soon. I love you Dad.
We haven't talked in a while but I'm over a year and half clean from alcohol. Guess what? I feel amazing.. I don't know what you're struggling with exactly but I think I have a pretty good idea & 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. billyraycyrus"
Obviously Billy Ray has been through some personal struggles over the past year or so, with his messy - and very public - divorce from Australian singer Firerose, who accused the singer of abuse and released audio of Billy Ray Cyrus berating her and calling his daughter Miley Cyrus "the devil" and a "skank."
It seems that since divorcing his wife Tish back in 2022, Billy Ray has become estranged from much of his family - but they're begging the singer to let them back in to his life so they can get him the help he needs.