The Trainwreck Night: What *Really* Happened With Billy Ray Cyrus’s Controversial Inauguration Performance

The 2017 Presidential Inauguration was a massive cultural moment, but for country music icon Billy Ray Cyrus, it became a moment of intense scrutiny that continues to be discussed to this day. The performance at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2017, was widely described by media outlets and attendees as "bizarre" and an "epic disaster," not because of political alignment, but due to a series of chaotic technical failures and an unnerving stage presence.

As of late 2025, the incident still surfaces in entertainment news, with recent reports even confusing the 2017 performance with potential future events, highlighting the lasting, cringeworthy legacy of that single night. This deep dive uncovers the true story behind the performance, the technical trainwreck that derailed the show, and the lasting impact it had on the venerable country star's public image and family life.

Billy Ray Cyrus: A Brief Biographical Profile

William "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career has spanned over three decades, making him a cornerstone of modern country music and pop culture.

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• Full Name: William Ray Cyrus
• Born: August 25, 1961
• Birthplace: Flatwoods, Kentucky, U.S.
• Genre: Country, Country Pop, Bluegrass
• Breakthrough Hit: "Achy Breaky Heart" (1992)
• Major Collaborations: Lil Nas X ("Old Town Road" remix), Dolly Parton
• Acting Career: Starred as Robby Ray Stewart in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana (2006–2011) alongside his daughter, Miley Cyrus.
• Family & Personal Life: Father of six children, including pop star Miley Cyrus and musician Trace Cyrus. He has been married multiple times, most recently to FIREROSE, with their divorce becoming a topic of public discussion in 2024.
• Political Affiliations: Historically identified as a conservative Democrat, his decision to perform at the Republican inaugural ball was seen as a significant political statement by many.

The Night of the "Epic Disaster": January 20, 2017

The performance took place at the Liberty Inaugural Ball, one of several official celebrations following the swearing-in of President Donald J. Trump. Cyrus was part of a lineup that included other notable names, but his set quickly became the most talked-about moment of the evening for all the wrong reasons.

Technical Difficulties Derail the Show

The primary cause of the controversy was not the music itself, but a cascade of technical failures that plagued the stage. Reports from the time indicate that Cyrus was repeatedly "cut off" and suffered from severe sound issues throughout his performance.

• Sound Cut-Outs: The audio system failed multiple times, leaving Cyrus struggling to connect with the audience.
• Aimless Stage Presence: Video footage showed the singer appearing confused and disoriented, at one point wandering the stage and asking the audience, “Is anybody awake?”
• The "Zombie" Performance: Critics and fans on social media quickly labeled the performance as "bizarre," "cringeworthy," and even "zombie-like" due to his erratic movements and the overall chaotic atmosphere.

The performance was intended to be a celebratory moment, but the severe technical glitches turned it into a widely shared clip of awkward television. Cyrus later addressed the event, describing it as a "trainwreck" but defending his presence, stating, "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 President of the United States asks you to come, you come."

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The Confusion Over "Old Town Road" and Lasting Impact

One of the most persistent, yet factually incorrect, details surrounding the infamous performance is the claim that Billy Ray Cyrus performed his hit remix of "Old Town Road" that night. This detail is a major point of confusion and anachronism that continues to appear in current reporting.

Debunking the Anachronism

The remix of "Old Town Road" with Lil Nas X was not released until April 2019, over two years after the January 2017 inauguration. The song Cyrus definitely performed was his signature hit, "Achy Breaky Heart." The misreporting likely stems from the meme-like nature of the 2017 performance and the later massive success of his collaboration with Lil Nas X, leading to a conflation of two separate, high-profile events in his career.

This confusion is a perfect example of how celebrity-political moments can become distorted over time, with new, sensational details being retroactively applied to the original event. The core controversy remains the technical failure and his resulting stage demeanor, not the song choice.

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The Continuing Fallout and Family Concern

The fallout from the event was significant, not just politically, but personally. Following the performance, reports surfaced detailing concerns from his family, including his son, about the singer's well-being. This public concern, fueled by the "bizarre" nature of the stage appearance, contributed to the narrative of a star in a difficult personal period.

More recently, the 2017 event has been dragged back into the headlines due to his personal life. Following his divorce from his fifth wife, FIREROSE, in 2024, sources close to the situation reportedly spoke out about his behavior, bringing the "concerning" nature of the Inauguration Day performance back into the conversation, even in late 2025 reporting. This shows that the 2017 Liberty Ball performance has become an unfortunate benchmark for public scrutiny of Billy Ray Cyrus's personal struggles and professional choices.

Ultimately, the Billy Ray Cyrus inauguration performance was a perfect storm of political pressure, severe technical glitches, and a resulting on-stage awkwardness that cemented its place in pop culture history. It stands as a cautionary tale of how one chaotic moment can overshadow a decades-long career, with the repercussions—and the confused reporting—continuing to resonate years later.