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By Jeanne Wolf
PARADE magazine
Billy Ray Cyrus struggled for years before he became a break-out country music star with his hit "Achy Breaky Heart." Since then, he's not only sold millions of records and won a shelf full of awards, but he has also forged an acting career. In his latest role, he's the host of NBC's "Nashville Star," the country music version of mega-hit "American Idol." The lucky winner of the series, which debuts June 9, will sing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Oh yes, Billy Ray has a daughter who's pretty successful herself, and he'll be joining Miley, the star of "Hannah Montana," on the big screen in "Hannah Montana: The Movie." Cyrus will talk about almost anything -- except the wave of publicity following Miley's controversial photo shoot for Vanity Fair.
Parade magazine: What made you want to be sort of the Ryan Seacrest of country music?
Billy Ray Cyrus: It was a no-brainer for me because they explained to me right off the bat that it's all about the music. It's about finding a true, original, great American artist. That's what they're looking for. And quite frankly, that's what excites me about music. The creativity, that's what I love.
Wouldn't you like to be a judge rather than just host?
I'm not one to judge anybody. I guess that comes from one who has been judged too much. I couldn't do it. It's not even an option for me. I don't do that.
Will you feel a connection with the young contestants who have big dreams?
I've been to the fair and I've seen the bear. I walked the streets and knocked on the doors of Nashville for well over 15 years before that first album, "Some Gave All," and my single "Achy Breaky Heart." I will be a good mentor to these young people and anything that they want to ask me, in good faith I'll give them the best answer I can.
So what's the best advice you can give?
I'm going to say the same thing that Carl Perkins and Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash said to me: "Always be yourself. Stay true to who you are." It's about going out there and saying, "This is who I am." It comes down to two words: Be real.
You're on a roll, but you're also working nonstop. Don't you ever want to take a break?
My dad always said, "If you love what you do for a living, you never have to work another day in your life." So I try to only do things that I really love. I love acting. I love doing this "Hannah Montana" feature film that we're working on right now. And I'm finishing my new album "Back to Tennessee." Making the album has just been so therapeutic as I've immersed myself in great songs and harmonies and rhythms -- all the things that I love.
What's it like acting with Miley?
She's one heck of an actress. People are really going to be blown away at how this kid can act. These last weeks, we had a couple heavy scenes together. I was just like, "Man, I cannot believe this.
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