The 5 Shocking Moments From Billy Ray Cyrus's 'Trainwreck' Inaugural Ball Performance That Sparked Backlash

The controversy surrounding Billy Ray Cyrus’s appearance at the Inaugural Ball remains one of the most talked-about moments in political-celebrity history, even today in December 2025. The country music legend’s set at the Liberty Inaugural Ball following President Donald Trump’s swearing-in was quickly labeled an "epic disaster" and "trainwreck" by fans and media alike, primarily due to a series of debilitating technical difficulties and an overall awkward stage presence. The performance, intended as a celebratory capstone to a momentous day, instead became a viral spectacle, raising concerns among his family and generating immense online discourse that continues to be re-examined years later. The details of the event—including the strange inclusion of his 2019 hit "Old Town Road" in what was widely reported as a 2017 performance—have only fueled the curiosity and confusion, solidifying the performance's place as a bizarre footnote in musical and political history. This article dives deep into the infamous night, his candid explanation, and the biographical context of the star at the center of the storm.

Billy Ray Cyrus: A Quick Biographical Profile

William "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to global fame in the early 1990s and has maintained a prominent career across music and television. His life and career are marked by blockbuster success, family connections to Hollywood, and a consistent presence in the country music scene.

• Full Name: William Ray Cyrus
• Born: August 25, 1961
• Birthplace: Flatwoods, Kentucky, U.S.
• Age (as of Dec 2025): 64 years old
• Genre: Country, Country Rock, Pop
• Career Highlights: Released the multi-platinum single "Achy Breaky Heart" (1992); starred in the TV series Doc and Hannah Montana; achieved a second wave of massive global success with the remix of Lil Nas X’s "Old Town Road" (2019).
• Spouses: Cindy Smith (m. 1986–1991), Tish Cyrus (m. 1993–2024), Firerose (m. 2023–2024, filed for divorce).
• Notable Children: Miley Cyrus, Noah Cyrus, Braison Cyrus, Trace Cyrus, Brandi Cyrus.
• Key Entities: Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Tish Cyrus, Achy Breaky Heart, Old Town Road, Hannah Montana, Liberty Inaugural Ball, Donald Trump.

The Infamous Liberty Ball Performance: A Timeline of Technical Chaos

The performance at the Liberty Inaugural Ball, held in Washington, D.C., was intended to be a high-energy celebratory set. Instead, it quickly devolved into a series of awkward, confusing, and cringe-worthy moments that left the audience and viewers at home concerned for the artist. The incident, which took place on Inauguration Day, was immediately seized upon by social media, turning it into a viral spectacle.

The core issue centered on severe technical difficulties that plagued the entire 12-minute set. Cyrus was reportedly unable to hear himself or the band, which led to a visibly disoriented performance. The sound issues were so profound that the veteran musician appeared to be aimlessly wandering the stage, struggling to connect with the crowd or the music.

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The "Old Town Road" Anomaly and Audience Confusion

One of the most confusing elements of the night, heavily discussed in recent years, was the inclusion of the song "Old Town Road." While many contemporary reports of the controversy mention him performing his 1992 smash hit "Achy Breaky Heart," several recent articles and retrospectives claim he performed his 2019 collaboration with Lil Nas X, "Old Town Road" .

This discrepancy has led to two main theories:

• The Conflation Theory: That the recent articles are conflating the 2017 inaugural ball performance with a separate, more recent disastrous performance where he did attempt "Old Town Road."
• The Retrospective Theory: That the song's music video was played on a large screen behind him, or that he attempted a snippet of the song's vocal part, despite the song not being officially released at that time, making the performance even more surreal and technically challenging.

Regardless of the exact song list, his lack of engagement with the audience, coupled with repeated attempts to address the sound issues—including an awkward moment where he asked the crowd, "Is anybody awake?"—cemented the performance's reputation as a total meltdown.

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Cyrus's Candid Response and the Aftermath

The immediate backlash was severe, with fans and critics expressing genuine concern for the singer's well-being. The term "trainwreck" dominated headlines, and the video clips became instant fodder for late-night comedy and social media commentary. In the days following the event, Cyrus addressed the criticism directly, offering a candid explanation for the widely panned set.

Cyrus squarely placed the blame on the technical difficulties, specifically citing "achy breaky music equipment" for the mishap. He stated that he had a "ball at the Liberty Ball" and that the technical issues were simply "part of 'rock 'n' roll.'" This explanation, while attempting to downplay the severity of the incident, did little to quiet the speculation, especially after reports surfaced that members of his own family had expressed concern for his health following the bizarre on-stage behavior.

Key LSI & Entities from the Controversy:

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• Liberty Ball
• Donald Trump Inauguration
• Technical Difficulties
• Performance Backlash
• Achy Breaky Music Equipment
• Miley Cyrus's Father
• Cringeworthy Performance
• Aimlessly Wander
• "Is anybody awake?"

Why the Performance Remains a Hot Topic in December 2025

Despite the Inaugural Ball being a past event, the story of Billy Ray Cyrus’s performance continues to resurface in the news cycle, making it a topic of perennial interest for several key reasons:

The Viral Element: In the age of social media, a performance this visibly flawed is guaranteed a permanent place in the digital hall of fame. Clips of the "aimlessly wandering" country star are easily shared and re-examined, especially during election cycles or any time the Cyrus family is in the news. The sheer awkwardness of the moment makes it a compelling piece of cultural history.

The "Old Town Road" Mystery: The conflicting reports regarding the performance of "Old Town Road" (a 2019 hit) at what was largely a 2017 event adds a layer of unresolved mystery and confusion. This anomaly keeps the story fresh, as journalists and fans continue to debate the true timeline of the songs performed, or if the recent reports are referencing a new, equally awkward performance that has been conflated with the original Inaugural Ball disaster.

The Ongoing Family Dynamic: The public nature of the Cyrus family’s relationships, including the highly-publicized divorce from Tish Cyrus and the subsequent marriage and divorce from Firerose, means that any past controversy involving Billy Ray is often brought up as a way to contextualize his current personal life. The Inaugural Ball incident is frequently cited as a moment of public vulnerability for the star, fueling ongoing media interest and fan speculation about his state of mind at the time.

The performance by Billy Ray Cyrus at the Liberty Inaugural Ball transcends a simple bad night for a musician. It stands as a prime example of a celebrity moment gone wrong, amplified by politics and technology, and preserved by the internet. It is a legendary "cringeworthy" moment that music and political enthusiasts will likely analyze for years to come.