5 Shocking Moments From Billy Ray Cyrus's 'Epic Disaster' Performance At The Liberty Ball

The Billy Ray Cyrus performance at the Liberty Ball remains one of the most talked-about—and often ridiculed—moments of the 2017 Presidential Inauguration celebration. Even today, in late 2025, the country star’s awkward, 12-minute set is frequently cited as a textbook example of a major gig going completely off the rails due to technical issues and poor planning. This deep dive revisits the infamous night, exploring the technical meltdown, the songs he performed, his candid explanation afterward, and the wider context of his career, which continues to evolve with recent news, including his 2024 divorce and new music.

Billy Ray Cyrus: A Country Icon's Biography and Latest Updates (2025)

Billy Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor, best known for his breakout 1992 hit "Achy Breaky Heart" and his later collaboration on the record-breaking "Old Town Road." He has also achieved significant fame through his acting roles, most notably as the father of Miley Cyrus on the Disney Channel series *Hannah Montana*. Here is a quick look at the life and career of the "Achy Breaky Heart" star:

• Full Name: William Ray Cyrus
• Date of Birth: August 25, 1961
• Place of Birth: Flatwoods, Kentucky, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Released his debut album *Some Gave All* in 1992, which became the first debut album to enter the Billboard 200 at number one. His single "Achy Breaky Heart" was a massive global crossover hit. He later featured on Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" in 2019, which broke numerous streaming and chart records.
• Family: He is the father of six children, including global pop star Miley Cyrus and singer Noah Cyrus.
• Marriages: Cyrus has been married multiple times. He was married to Tish Finley for nearly 30 years before their divorce was finalized in 2023. He married musician Firerose in 2023, but the couple filed for divorce in 2024, citing irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct.
• Recent News (2025): He continues to work on new music, with his son Braison Cyrus recently producing his latest album.

The Infamous Liberty Ball Performance: A Trainwreck of Technical Difficulties

The Liberty Ball was one of three official inaugural balls held in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2017, celebrating the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Billy Ray Cyrus was one of several high-profile performers, including Toby Keith and The Rockettes, who agreed to appear at the event. However, his performance quickly devolved into an "awkward spectacle" that was widely panned by the media and attendees. The core issue was a series of catastrophic technical difficulties that plagued his entire set.

1. The Sound System Meltdown

From the moment Cyrus took the stage, the sound was reportedly off. He was unable to hear his own instruments or vocals properly through the monitors, a critical failure that makes it impossible for a musician to perform in time and on key. He was forced to ad-lib and struggle through the set, a situation that critics labeled an "epic disaster."

2. The 'Is My Guitar Still On?' Moment

One of the most cringe-worthy moments came when the country singer stopped playing and audibly asked the stage crew, "Is my guitar still on?" This public query highlighted the severe equipment malfunctions. The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral, symbolizing the chaotic nature of the entire event.

3. A Lackluster 'Achy Breaky Heart'

Cyrus attempted to perform his signature hit, "Achy Breaky Heart," but the technical problems stripped the song of its energy. The performance lacked the punch and clarity the song is known for, leading to a subdued and confused reaction from the audience, many of whom were high-profile political figures and donors.

Cyrus's Candid Explanation and the Aftermath

The fallout from the Liberty Ball was immediate, with numerous outlets reporting on the "bizarre" and "disastrous" performance. The singer, however, offered a surprisingly philosophical take on the incident, attempting to spin the technical difficulties as a learning experience.

4. The 'You Just Gotta Keep Going' Philosophy

In the days following the event, Billy Ray Cyrus spoke out to address the criticism. He explained that his 12-and-a-half-minute set was indeed riddled with equipment malfunctions. His response to the chaos on stage was to channel the spirit of the new administration. He recalled saying to a backstage aide, "In life, when you have technical difficulties, you just gotta keep going, or as President Trump would say, 'You just gotta keep on trucking.'"

5. The 'Part of Rock 'n' Roll' Defense

Cyrus ultimately dismissed the mishap as an unavoidable element of live performance. He stated that the entire experience was "all just part of rock 'n' roll," suggesting that unexpected challenges are simply par for the course in the music industry. He also suggested that the audience "just had to be there" to truly understand the energy and context of the moment, a defense that did little to quell the negative reviews.

The Legacy of the Liberty Ball Performance

Despite the negative press, the Liberty Ball performance did not derail Billy Ray Cyrus's career. In fact, just two years later, he would experience one of the biggest resurgences of his career by collaborating with Lil Nas X on the remix of "Old Town Road." This collaboration introduced him to a new generation of fans and proved his enduring relevance in the music world. The infamous 2017 gig, however, remains a fascinating case study in live event production failure. It serves as a strong reminder that even the most seasoned performers are at the mercy of their sound and technical crew. For Billy Ray Cyrus, it was a moment of public vulnerability where a veteran artist was forced to rely on sheer willpower to power through an unfortunate, and memorable, technical meltdown. His ability to move past the "epic disaster" and achieve new heights of success shortly thereafter solidified his status as a resilient figure in country and pop culture.