Billy Ray Cyrus speaks on daughter Miley amid rumored family rift

Billy Ray Cyrus has claimed his daughter Mylie Cyrus is a ‘survivor’ despite rumors circulating about their apparent fallout.

On Friday (June 7), Billy Ray, 62, shared a throwback photo of himself and Miley, 31, at CMA Fest, formerly known as Fan Fair.

Alongside the picture were two were bits of paper, which the singer explained was a poem he’d written after experiencing the festival.

“One of my best memories ever: @cma Fest, back when it was Fan Fair,” he typed to his 1.8 million Instagram followers.

“That's @mileycyrus and me, surrounded by thousands of incredible fans at the fairgrounds. The next day, someone handed me this picture, and I wrote that poem right then on the bus.”

The Achy Breaky Heart hitmaker went on to claim that he was ‘incredibly proud’ of his daughter.

“She's a survivor and a true artist. She learned early on to love and appreciate the fans who make everything possible.

“We both cherish the connection we have with our fans and are grateful for every single one of you!"

He added: “Hope you all have a great Friday! Now rock the country!!!”

Billy Ray and his ex-wife Leticia ‘Tish’ Cyrus-Purcell welcomed Miley - born Destiny Hope - into the world in 1992.

In the same year, the country crooner became a father to his eldest son, Christopher Cody Cyrus, 32, born to Kristin Luckey.

Billy Ray called his daughter Miley a 'survivor'. (Instagram/billyraycyrus)

Before adding Braison Chance Cyrus, 30, and Noah Lindsey Cyrus, 24, to their brood in 1994 and 2000, respectively, Billy Ray and Tish secretly tied the knot in 1993.

He also adopted two of Tish’s children from a previous relationship - Brandi Glenn Cyrus, 37, and Metro Station’s Trace Dempsey Cyrus, 35.

However, in April 2022, the couple divorced after being separated for more than two years.

Three months after splitting from Tish, Billy Ray announced his engagement to Australian singer Firerose, whom he had met on the set of Hannah Montana.

Rumors of a rift between the father-of-six and Miley began spiking in October 2023 when she was mysteriously missing his wedding to the 34-year-old star.

The snub came after she was present at her mother’s nuptials to Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell in Malibu, California.

Months later, the Flowers hitmaker fuelled rumors further by failing to mention her father in her 2024 Grammy acceptance speech.

Instead, she thanked her mom, her sister Brandi and her boyfriend Maxx Morando, 24, for their support.

The star previously said Hannah Montana 'destroyed' his family. (Disney)

Billy Ray has previously said that starring on Disney’s Hannah Montana with his daughter ‘destroyed’ his family.

Speaking to GQ Magazine in 2011, the actor said: “I hate to say it, but yes, I [wish the show never happened].

“For my family to be here and just everybody okay, safe and sound and happy and normal, would have been fantastic. I’d erase it all in a second if I could.”