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Miley Cyrus' dad Billy Ray records hip-hop version of 'Achy Breaky Heart'

The modernised version of his 1992 hit should make for an interesting listen

Jess Denham
Thursday 02 January 2014 09:19 EST
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Miley Cyrus with her father, country musician Billy Ray Cyrus
Miley Cyrus with her father, country musician Billy Ray Cyrus (Associated Press)

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Not content with letting his daughter steal all the limelight, Miley Cyrus’ dad Billy Ray has recorded a hip-hop track.

The country musician, 52, told US chat show host Larry King that he has modernised his biggest hit “Achy Breaky Heart” for a 2014 release.

King tweeted: "Just spoke with @billyraycyrus on the phone - he's recorded a hip-hop version of "Achy Breaky Heart" - he's excited about it and so am I!"

First released in 1992, the song reached number three in the UK and four on the US Hot 100 chart.

But Billy Ray has since passed the baton of fame onto Miley, choosing to concentrate more on acting than singing.

His daughter hit headlines throughout 2013 for a string of controversial performances. She twerked with Robin Thicke to “Blurred Lines” at the MTV Video Music Awards in August, smoked a joint on-stage while accepting an award in Amsterdam and let a black latex-clad dwarf spank her.

Then there was her music video for “Wrecking Ball” - the one in which she licks a sledgehammer provocatively before swinging stark naked on a giant ball.

Billy Ray has defended his daughter’s behaviour, telling Access Hollywood that she just "wanted people to be talking”. “She’s a very smart young lady,” he said. “She wanted to shake things up a little bit and…mission accomplished.”

Despite his loyalty remaining strong in the face of Miley’s critics, the singer added: “She wanted to go from a teenage superstar to a young lady, she’s got a lot to say musically.

“It’s hard for me at times, it’s still Miley. It’s still my little girl, it’s still my daughter.”

Whether Miley’s father will record a video to rival his daughter’s efforts remains to be seen, but we really, really hope not.

A video of Billy Ray Cyrus performing the original version of "Achy Breaky Heart" in the early Nineties sees the country singer bearing a remarkable resemblance to a certain Mr Thicke.

Miley twerked and simulated sexual activity with a guy who looks like her dad - not disturbing in the slightest...

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