Billy Ray Cyrus delivered a performance marred by what could only be described as an "epic disaster" at Donald Trump's Liberty Ball, following the presidential inauguration. On Monday night, January 20th, the 63-year-old crooner ascended the stage in Washington, D.C., ready to serenade the audience with his timeless hit, "Achy Breaky Heart," and his collaboration with Lil Nas X, "Old Town Road."
Midway through his set, after belting out "Old Town Road," Cyrus found himself grappling with a technical glitch. "Is my guitar still on?" he inquired of the stagehands, a hint of perplexity creeping into his voice. "I think they cut me off. I can't hear my guitar anymore." Holding the instrument aloft, he turned his attention to the backstage crew, querying, "Is anyone awake out there?"
"I don't hear it? Do you all hear it?" he persisted, his frustration evident. "Is anyone backstage? Can someone please turn my guitar back on? We've got more singing to do." With a wry smile, he quipped about the possible reasons behind the sound cutoff, adding, "Do you want me to keep singing, or should I just beat a hasty retreat? I honestly don't care either way."
Fortunately, a stage crew member eventually stepped forward to rectify the issue, allowing Cyrus to resume his performance. "When technical difficulties strike, you just have to soldier on," he remarked, adding with a nod to the commander-in-chief, "Or, as President Trump would say, you've got to fight!"
Social media users wasted no time in lambasting Cyrus' gravelly vocals. "Billy Ray Cyrus' performance at Donald Trump's inaugural Liberty Ball was nothing short of an epic disaster," one user tweeted on X (formerly Twitter). Another chimed in, "That Billy Ray Cyrus 'performance' at the Liberty Ball was absolutely pathetic. The worst I've seen in ages." A third commented, "It seems Billy Ray Cyrus had far more than just technical issues plaguing his Liberty Ball gig!"
Some spectators even questioned whether Cyrus was singing live, given that the music video for "Old Town Road" featuring Lil Nas X was playing in the background. "Billy Ray Cyrus, clearly lip-syncing, looked like he'd emerged from under a bridge before this anemic performance at Donald Trump's inaugural Liberty Ball," one critic wrote. "So embarrassing." Another added, "Why does Billy Ray Cyrus look so out of it? It doesn't even resemble him. It's obvious he's lip-syncing. This is horrid."
Cyrus' attire also came under scrutiny, with viewers mocking his ensemble of a black jacket, dark-washed jeans, a multi-colored scarf, and a cowboy hat. "Billy Ray Cyrus or Captain Jack Sparrow… you decide," one quipped on X, referring to the protagonist of 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' Another concurred, "When did Billy Ray Cyrus morph into Captain Jack Sparrow?! What on earth was that?!"
Other performers who graced Trump's three inaugural balls on Monday night included Kid Rock, the Village People, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Parker McCollum, Gavin DeGraw, and the Liberty University's Praise Choir.
