Tish Cyrus recently shared on a new “Call Her Daddy” episode that she encouraged her ex-husband, Billy Ray Cyrus, to take on the role in “Hannah Montana” because she believed it would bring their family closer together. She saw the opportunity as a way to not only advance Billy’s career, which had hit a wall after his 1992 hit “Achy Breaky Heart,” but also as a chance to strengthen their family unit.
Key Takeaway
Tish Cyrus revealed that she encouraged Billy Ray to take on the role in “Hannah Montana” in the hopes of bringing their family closer together, despite conflicting perspectives on the impact of the show on their family.
The Lightbulb Moment
During Miley’s audition for the show, casting directors joked that they “couldn’t afford” Billy for the series, which prompted Tish to intervene and express her belief that the idea wasn’t far-fetched. She then urged Billy to audition, despite knowing it would mean a pay cut for him, because it would allow their family to be together again.
A Golden Opportunity
At the time, the entire Cyrus family, including their five children, had been residing in Toronto, where Billy was filming another show. Tish was concerned about the prospect of constantly traveling between Canada and L.A. for Miley’s new starring role. Getting Billy on the series presented a golden opportunity to alleviate this stress.
Conflicting Perspectives
While Tish’s reflection on “Hannah Montana” appears to be centered on “what could have been,” Billy Ray has expressed a different sentiment. In a 2011 interview with GQ, he stated that the show “destroyed my family.” Tish and Billy legally parted ways in 2022, and Tish married Dominic Purcell in August 2023. This new marriage reportedly remains a source of major contention between Miley and her father.
