The 5 Most Shocking Details Behind Billy Ray Cyrus' 'Disastrous' Inauguration Performance

The 2017 Presidential Inauguration was a week of high-profile events, but few moments generated as much immediate confusion and viral scrutiny as Billy Ray Cyrus' performance at the Liberty Inaugural Ball. As of the current date in December 2025, the event remains a bizarre footnote in the country music star's career, overshadowed by claims of technical meltdowns and a general sense of chaos that left both attendees and viewers deeply concerned.

The highly anticipated appearance quickly devolved into what many media outlets and fans dubbed a "trainwreck." While Billy Ray Cyrus later attributed the entire ordeal to significant technical difficulties, the footage of his time on stage—at one of the most politically charged events in recent history—cemented the performance as one of the most memorable and disastrous moments of the entire inauguration celebration. This article dives deep into the facts, the fallout, and the star's own explanation for what exactly went wrong on that fateful night.

Billy Ray Cyrus: A Quick Profile & Biography

Billy Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor whose career has spanned over three decades, marked by massive hits and a significant presence in pop culture, largely through his family.

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• Full Name: William Ray Cyrus
• Born: August 25, 1961
• Birthplace: Flatwoods, Kentucky, United States
• Genre: Country, Country Pop, Southern Rock
• Breakthrough Hit: "Achy Breaky Heart" (1992)
• Major Collaborations: "Old Town Road" (with Lil Nas X)
• Acting Career: Starred as Robby Ray Stewart in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana alongside his daughter, Miley Cyrus.
• Notable Awards: Multiple Grammy Award nominations and wins, including two for "Old Town Road."
• Family Ties: Father to five children, including global pop star Miley Cyrus and musician Noah Cyrus.

The Chaotic Night at the Liberty Inaugural Ball (January 20, 2017)

The performance in question took place on January 20, 2017, in Washington D.C., as part of the celebrations for the 58th Presidential Inauguration of Donald J. Trump. Billy Ray Cyrus was one of several high-profile performers scheduled to appear at the various inaugural balls, specifically taking the stage at the Liberty Inaugural Ball.

1. The Technical Meltdown

The central and most critical factor in the performance's failure was a series of severe technical difficulties. Reports and video evidence suggested that the sound system was plagued by issues, leading to a disjointed and often inaudible performance. The country star later spoke out, explaining that he was forced to perform without "proper equipment" and that the stage crew had "cut him off."

The singer recounted that the sound was a complete mess from the beginning. This lack of clear audio and monitoring made it nearly impossible for him to deliver a coherent set, immediately setting a tone of confusion and struggle for the audience.

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2. The 'Achy Breaky Heart' Struggle

Billy Ray Cyrus’ performance included his signature, career-defining hit, "Achy Breaky Heart." However, the technical issues severely impacted the delivery of the song. The combination of poor sound quality and the singer's visibly confused demeanor on stage led fans to express immediate concern online. The performance was described by some media as "embarrassing" and a "meltdown," breaking the "achy breaky hearts" of his loyal fanbase.

3. The 'Old Town Road' Misconception

A curious and widely misreported detail surrounding this event is the claim that Cyrus performed his later, global smash hit, "Old Town Road" (The Lil Nas X remix). This is factually impossible, as the original "Old Town Road" was not released until late 2018, and the iconic remix featuring Cyrus was released in April 2019—more than two years *after* the 2017 inauguration.

This persistent misconception highlights the general chaos and misreporting that surrounded the event. The viral nature of the disastrous performance likely led to later retrospective pieces incorrectly conflating the event with his most recent massive hit, further muddying the details of his controversial setlist.

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The Aftermath: Fan Concern, 'Trainwreck' Labels, and Cyrus' Response

The immediate fallout from the inauguration performance was intense. Social media exploded with comments expressing concern for the singer's well-being, with many describing his stage presence as "bizarre" or "zombie-like" and the performance itself as a "disaster."

4. The Fan and Family Concern

Beyond the simple mockery of a poor performance, the public reaction was marked by genuine worry. The chaotic nature of the set, combined with Cyrus' on-stage struggles, led to widespread speculation about his personal life and health. This concern was amplified by the fact that the performance occurred amid a high-stress political environment, leading to a media cycle that focused more on the spectacle of the failure than the political significance of the event.

5. Billy Ray Cyrus Breaks His Silence

In the weeks following the event, Billy Ray Cyrus addressed the fiasco, confirming that the technical issues were the sole cause of the on-stage struggle. He stated that he would not have missed the opportunity to perform, despite the outcome, but firmly laid the blame on the sound crew and the lack of preparation.

Cyrus' comments provided clarity, shifting the narrative from a personal meltdown to a professional and technical failure. He explained that the situation was out of his hands, a victim of poor staging and sound engineering that plagued some of the inaugural events. His explanation, which included being "cut off" mid-set, helped to contextualize the viral videos that had painted a picture of a star struggling to maintain his composure.

Ultimately, the Billy Ray Cyrus inauguration performance at the Liberty Ball in 2017 remains a powerful example of how quickly a high-profile event can turn into a viral spectacle due to unforeseen technical difficulties. Despite the controversy, Cyrus moved past the incident, later achieving a massive career resurgence with the "Old Town Road" collaboration, demonstrating the resilience and staying power of the country music icon.