Billy Ray Cyrus performing at the Liberty Ball in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo:
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Billy Ray Cyrus is clapping back following criticism he received for his inauguration appearance.
On Jan. 22, the country singer, 63, posted on Instagram, responding to negative feedback he received online for his performance at Donald Trump‘s inauguration Liberty Ball on Monday, Jan. 20.
“This was the most fun part of the Liberty Ball! And if you didn’t see it… you just had to be there,” he captioned the video of him performing an a cappella rendition of his 1992 hit “Achy Breaky Heart.” (The post’s comments were turned off.) “I just don’t think you understand.”
Billy Ray Cyrus at the Liberty Ball in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. Joe Raedle/Getty
At the inaugural event, Cyrus experienced technical difficulties during his bizarre performances of “Achy Breaky Heart” and his Lil Nas X collab “Old Town Road.”
“Check? Is anybody awake?” Cyrus asked at one point, looking backstage for assistance. “Y’all want me to sing more or you want me to just get the hell off the stage?” the singer quipped, adding: “In life, when you have technical difficulties, you just gotta keep going, or as President Trump would say, ‘You gotta fight.'”
Following the set, fans online called his performance an “epic disaster,” “cringe-worthy” and “legitimately concerning.”
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Cyrus previously spoke about his performance on Jan. 21 with an exclusive statement to PEOPLE.
“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,” Cyrus said at the time. “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. I was there for the people and we had a blast. That’s called rock n roll!!!”
Billy Ray Cyrus performing at the Liberty Ball in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. Joe Raedle/Getty
The Hannah Montana actor wasn’t the only artist to experience technical difficulties during the inauguration.
The music for Carrie Underwood‘s rendition of “America the Beautiful” glitched right before she performed in the Capitol rotunda, where the American Idol alum ended up singing a cappella.
“You know the words,” she told the inauguration attendees, encouraging them to join in.
