Billy Ray Cyrus Says He’s ‘Incredibly Proud’ of Miley Cyrus: ‘She’s a Survivor & a True Artist’

Billy Ray Cyrus is feeling sentimental. On Friday (June 7), the 62-year-old country star posted a heartfelt message about daughter Miley Cyrus to Instagram, sharing a sweet throwback picture to when she was little.

In the photo, a young Billy Ray — still rocking his signature mullet — holds a toddler-aged Miley in his arms, cupping her face in his hand. “One of my best memories ever: @cma Fest, back when it was Fan Fair,” he captioned the snap. “That’s @mileycyrus and me, surrounded by thousands of incredible fans at the fairgrounds.”

He also shared a handwritten poem he wrote the day after the photo was taken. “Let’s say [there] was a warrior/ An armored shining knight,” it reads. “And the princess that he loved/ Together shared the light.”

“The next day, someone handed me this picture, and I wrote that poem right then on the bus,” the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer continued in his caption. “I’m incredibly proud of her. She’s a survivor and a true artist. She learned early on to love and appreciate the fans who make everything possible. We both cherish the connection we have with our fans and are grateful for every single one of you!”

Billy Ray also paired the post with his now 31-year-old daughter’s hit 2023 single “Flowers,” which spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The post comes amid rumors of a rift in the Cyrus family following Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus’ 2022 divorce. The former couple was married for nearly 30 years and share six children. Both have married other people since their split.

When she won a Grammy for record of the year in February, fans noticed that Miley didn’t include her father in her acceptance speech. After thanking her mom and sister Brandi, she joked, “I don’t think I forgot anyone, but I might have forgotten underwear.”

See Billy Ray Cyrus’ post and handwritten poem on his Instagram account.