A true pop and country music phenomenon, Billy Ray Cyrus has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and has had three No. 1 hit singles. Over the course of 11 studio albums since 1992, he has earned nearly 30 chart singles, including 15 Top 40 hits. His debut album, Some Gave All, was a blockbuster success and is the longest running No. 1 country album ever, spending 34 weeks on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. Over the last decade, Cyrus has also established himself as a successful actor in TV and film, including lead roles as the title character in the PAX-TV series “Doc,” the Lifetime film “Flying By” and the action-comedy film “The Spy Next Door,” alongside Jackie Chan. He has also starred as Robby Ray Stewart, the father of his daughter Miley Cyrus’ fictional character in the smash Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana.”
Some Gave All has been certified 9x Multi-Platinum in the United States and set a record for the longest run by a debut artist in music history. It’s the only album from any genre during this period to stay #1 for this long, and is also the top-ranking debut album by a male country artist. Some Gave All was also the first debut album to enter at the #1 position on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The video for “Achy Breaky Heart” led to an explosion into the mainstream of the line dance, which led to a global phenomenon in the early 90s.
In 1998, Cyrus released the #3 hit single “Busy Man” from Shot Full of Love, and his 2007 release Home At Last reached the Top 20 on the Billboard 200, hitting #3 on the Top Country Albums chart. “Ready, Set, Don’t Go”—his duet with Miley—also became a smash country hit. In 2009, Cyrus released his 11th album, Back To Tennessee, which combined his passion for blues, southern rock, bluegrass, gospel and country. The title track and the Billy Ray-Miley duet “Butterfly Fly Away” were both featured on the “Hannah Montana: The Movie” soundtrack, which climbed to #1 on the country charts and on the Billboard 200.
In addition to appearing in and co-producing “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” Cyrus’s film and television appearances include Hallmark Channel’s original movie “Christmas in Canaan,” the critically acclaimed film “Mulholland Drive” and “Bait Shop” alongside comedian Bill Engval. Cyrus has hosted country music’s “Nashville Star” talent show and in 2007 was a competitor on the long-running ABC hit series “Dancing With The Stars.”
Cyrus is also engaged in another cause near and dear to his heart—he is the national spokesperson for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a condition that afflicted his grandfather. Recently, he appeared on “The View” and “Good Morning America” to talk about the cause and the Tune Up for the COPD Songwriting Competition, hosted by DRIVE4COPD and the Country Music Association.