Billy Ray Cyrus' son makes dramatic plea after 'trainwreck' performance at Trump inauguration

Billy Ray Cyrus' son, Trace, made a dramatic plea to his father just days following his 'trainwreck' performance at the Liberty Ball during the Trump inauguration on Monday.

The Achy Breaky Heart singer, 63, took to the stage at the Washington Convention Center which was plagued by technical issues - prompting the star to improvise and perform A cappella at some points.

In another instance, his silhouette could be seen moving about the stage as music played in the background - prompting social media users to label the situation as 'plain embarrassing.'

Cyrus has since brushed aside the awkward performance, penning on Instagram that 'you just had to be there' and that he 'wouldn't have missed the honor' of performing at the ball.

However, his son Trace Cyrus, 35, has now taken to his own Instagram account to express concern for his father and wrote that he 'barely recognizes' him.

The musician also included a throwback photo when he was younger as he excitedly joined Billy on stage.

'Since my earliest memories all I can remember is being obsessed with you and thinking you were the coolest person ever. I wanted to be just like you. The day you adopted me was the happiest day of my life.' 

Trace - who was the former backing vocalist and guitarist for Metro Station - is the son of Tish Cyrus and Bexter Neal Helson. At the age of four, Billy notably adopted him amid his marriage to Tish, which came to an end in 2022. 

'Sadly the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognize now. It seems this world has beaten you down and it's become obvious to everyone but you.'

'You may be upset with me for posting this but I really could care less at this point. Me and the girls have been genuinely worried about you for years but you've pushed all of us away,' he added of his siblings - including Miley Cyrus. 

Trace further wrote, 'Noah desperately has wanted you to be a part of her life and you haven't even been there for her.'

'That's your baby girl. She deserves better. Somehow just like me she still idolizes you though.'  

Last year in February, a source told People that Noah had remained 'close' to her father following his divorce from Tish after 30 years of marriage. 

'Noah is very loyal to Billy Ray. She and Billy Ray have always had a really close relationship,' the insider said at the time. 

In his message, Trace also added, 'We are all hanging on to memories of the man we once knew & hoping for the day he returns. You're not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it.'

'Just like I showed up for you at mamaws funeral when you didn't expect me to I'm still here right now.' 

The guitarist emotionally continued, 'I hope you realize this message only comes from a place of love and also fear that the world may lose you far too soon. I love you Dad.'

Trace then revealed that he has been sober for over one year by penning, 'We haven't talked in a while but I'm over a year and half clean from alcohol. Guess what? I feel amazing..'

'I don't know what you're struggling with exactly but I think I have a pretty good idea & I'd love to help you if you would open up and receive the help. You know how to reach me. Till that day comes I will continue to pray for you.' 

Billy is father to Trace, as well as Miley, 32, Noah, 25, Brandi, 37, and Braison, 30 - whom he shares with Tish. He also welcomed another son Christopher, 32, with ex Kristin Luckey. 

In 2023, Cyrus married Firerose but the following year he filed for divorce in May 2024. Three months later, the divorce was finalized. 

During an interview with Stellar Magazine last fall, Firerose reflected on the tumultuous split. Following the divorce proceedings, she walked away with $0. 

'I couldn't have seen 10 years into the future. When I think about what I just went through, I would have told my 22-year-old self to run in the opposite direction and never look back,' she stated. 

Trace's latest post comes just two days after his father Billy performed at the Liberty Ball during the Trump inauguration - which was later labeled as a 'trainwreck.' 

However, the singer said he was not bothered while his outing was plagued by tech mishaps, as he improvised and sang A capella in an effort to salvage the doomed set. 

'This was the most fun part of the Liberty Ball!' the country singer-songwriter wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. 

Cyrus' post was accompanied by a clip of the gravelly-voiced singer performing his trademark hit, 1992's Achy Breaky Heart, without any backing musicians at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. 

The Flatwoods, Kentucky native said that 'if you didn't see it… you just had to be there' of his outing in honor of President Donald Trump's inauguration.'

He ended his post with a lyric from his early 90s breakout hit, saying, 'I just don’t think you understand.'

Billy said in a post on the social media site Tuesday: 'I wouldn't have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not.'

'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 producer says "you're on," you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell.'

The musical artist said he 'was there for the people and we had a blast,' adding, 'that’s called rock n roll!!!'

During his outing Monday, Cyrus could be heard discussing technical issues with the stage crew following a performance of the song Old Town Road.

Cyrus was heard saying, 'Is my guitar still on? I think they cut me off. I don't hear my guitar anymore.'

Cyrus at one point gestured to his guitar and asked crew members, 'Is anyone awake?'

He continued, 'I don't hear it? Do ya'll hear it? Is anyone back there? Can somebody turn my guitar back on? We're going to sing a bit more.'

At one point, a frustrated Cyrus conceded he was losing interest in continuing to perform. 'Y'all want me to sing more or you just want me to get the hell of the stage?' he said. 'I don't give a d**n.'

After a technician remedied the situation, Cyrus referenced the Commander in Chief, saying, 'When you have technical difficulties you got to just keep going - or as President Trump would say, you got to fight!'

In another awkward sequence, Cyrus' silhouette was seen walking around on the stage while the music played behind him. 'That is just plain embarrassing,' one social media user said. 'What, Milli Vanilli wasn't available?'

Social media users appeared to be disappointed in the technically-hindered performance in their feedback.

One user called the outing 'possibly the cringiest few minutes in entertainment history.'

Another said it was 'so embarrassing' watching Cyrus was 'giving a trainwreck performance' Monday as he was 'clearly lip-syncing' and disheveled in appearance.

The user noted that it appeared Cyrus was 'bizarrely [wandering] around the stage,' adding, 'How embarrassing for him.'

The nature of criticism at Cyrus for his outing Monday did not appear to be politically-driven, as supporters of the incoming president lobbed insults in his direction.