Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Billy Ray Cyrus
How Billy Ray Cyrus built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Billy Ray Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, and actor notable for his successful music career. He has released 16 studio albums and 53 singles since 1992. Cyrus is most famous for his hit song "Achy Breaky Heart", which achieved triple platinum status in Australia and was the best-selling single there in 1992. The song's music video significantly boosted the popularity of the line dance.
1990: Signed to PolyGram/Mercury
In 1990, Billy Ray Cyrus signed with PolyGram/Mercury and opened for Reba McEntire.
1992: Debut Album Release
In 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus began to record and write music for his debut album, which was later released that year.
1992: Featured Songs on Album
In 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus featured the songs "Wher'm I Gonna Live?" and "Some Gave All" on his debut album Some Gave All, co-written with Cindy Smith.
1992: "Some Gave All" Album Release and Success
In 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus released his album Some Gave All, which debuted at No. 1 on multiple charts and featured the hit single "Achy Breaky Heart."
1992: Some Gave All Album Success
In 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus's debut album, Some Gave All, was the best-selling album of the year in the US, selling 4,832,000 copies. The album was also the first debut album to enter at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
1993: Continued Chart Success
From 1992 to 1993, Billy Ray Cyrus had four consecutive top 40 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart from his album Some Gave All, including "Achy Breaky Heart," which reached No. 1.
1993: Release of "It Won't Be the Last" and Appearance on "Romeo"
In 1993, Billy Ray Cyrus released his second studio album, It Won't Be the Last, and appeared on Dolly Parton's single "Romeo." The album debuted at No. 1 on the Country charts. "Romeo" reached No. 27 on the country singles charts.
1994: Contribution to AIDS Benefit Album
In 1994, Billy Ray Cyrus contributed the song "Pictures Don't Lie" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization.
1994: Release of "Storm in the Heartland"
In 1994, Billy Ray Cyrus released his third studio album, Storm in the Heartland, which reached No. 11 on the Country albums chart. It was the final album he recorded for PolyGram.
1995: PolyGram Closure
In 1995, PolyGram, Billy Ray Cyrus's record label at the time, closed its doors.
1996: Release of "Trail of Tears"
In 1996, Billy Ray Cyrus released his album Trail of Tears for Mercury Records, which debuted at No. 20 on the Country chart.
1996: "Some Gave All" Certified 9x Multi-Platinum
In 1996, Billy Ray Cyrus's album Some Gave All was certified 9x multi-platinum in the United States.
1998: Release of "Shot Full of Love"
In 1998, Billy Ray Cyrus released his last album for Mercury Records, Shot Full of Love, which became his lowest-peaking album, debuting at No. 32.
1999: Starred in Radical Jack
In 1999, Billy Ray Cyrus starred in the independent film Radical Jack.
1999: Signing with Monument Records
In 1999, after his single fell from the charts, Billy Ray Cyrus left Mercury and signed with Monument Records.
2000: Release of Southern Rain
Billy Ray's first country album since 2000's Southern Rain was Wanna Be Your Joe.
2001: Starring in "Doc"
In 2001, Billy Ray Cyrus began starring in the television series Doc, which focused on a country doctor who moved from Montana to New York City.
2001: Role in Mulholland Drive and lead role in Doc
In 2001, Billy Ray Cyrus had a small part in David Lynch's film Mulholland Drive and played the lead role in the PAX comedy-drama Doc.
2003: Release of Christian Albums
In 2003, Billy Ray Cyrus released two Christian albums, Time Flies and The Other Side. Time Flies debuted at No. 56 on the Country album charts.
2004: End of "Doc"
In 2004, Billy Ray Cyrus finished his role in the television series Doc.
2004: Guest star on Degrassi: The Next Generation
In 2004, Billy Ray Cyrus guest-starred as a limo driver in "The Power of Love" episode of the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation.
2005: Appearance in Annie Get Your Gun
In 2005, Billy Ray Cyrus expanded his acting career by appearing in a stage production of Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto, playing the role of Frank Butler.
2005: Co-starring in Hannah Montana
In late 2005, Billy Ray Cyrus began co-starring with his daughter Miley Cyrus in the Disney Channel television series, Hannah Montana.
March 24, 2006: Premiere of Hannah Montana
On March 24, 2006, the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana, co-starring Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus, premiered.
2006: Appearance with Metal Skool
In 2006, Billy Ray Cyrus appeared with metal-rock group Metal Skool (now Steel Panther), and performed several songs including "Rebel Yell" and "I Want My Mullet Back".
2006: Starring in "Hannah Montana"
In 2006, Billy Ray Cyrus began starring as Robby Ray Stewart on the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana with his daughter Miley Cyrus.
2006: Sang at the World Series
In 2006, Billy Ray Cyrus sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at Game 5 of the World Series in St. Louis, Missouri.
March 2007: Joined Dancing with the Stars
In March 2007, Billy Ray Cyrus participated in the fourth season of the US version of Dancing with the Stars.
May 8, 2007: Elimination from Dancing with the Stars
On May 8, 2007, Billy Ray Cyrus and his partner Karina Smirnoff were eliminated from the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars.
July 2007: Release of "Home at Last"
In July 2007, Billy Ray Cyrus released the album Home at Last on Walt Disney Records, which debuted at No. 3 on the country charts.
October 2007: Duet on Dancing with the Stars
In October 2007, Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus performed a duet of "Ready, Set, Don't Go" on Dancing with the Stars, which debuted at No. 27 on the Country charts.
2007: Dancing with the Stars
In 2007, Billy Ray Cyrus was a celebrity contestant on the 4th season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Karina Smirnoff. He finished in 5th place in the semi-finals.
November 12, 2008: Presentation at Country Music Association Awards
On November 12, 2008, Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus presented the "Song of the Year" award at the 42nd Annual Country Music Association Awards. They also performed on Good Morning America prior to the award show.
December 2008: Cameo in Metro Station's Video
In December 2008, Billy Ray Cyrus made a cameo in Metro Station's video, "Seventeen Forever".
2008: Disney Collection
In 2008, Billy Ray Cyrus was featured in the Disney collection Country Sings Disney, with two of his songs, "Ready, Set, Don't Go" and "Real Gone," appearing on the album.
2008: Top 5 Single with Miley Cyrus
In 2008, the duet "Ready, Set, Don't Go" by Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus peaked at No. 4, giving Billy Ray his first top 5 single since 1999.
2009: Last Charted Single
In 2009, Billy Ray Cyrus's last charted single was "A Good Day" before "Nineteen" entered the Hot Country Songs chart in 2011.
2009: Formation of Brother Clyde
In early 2009, Billy Ray Cyrus, Phil Vassar, Jeffrey Steele, and John Waite formed a supergroup called Brother Clyde, and they recorded their first single, "Lately".
January 2010: Release of The Spy Next Door
In January 2010, The Spy Next Door, starring Billy Ray Cyrus and Jackie Chan, was released.
June 30, 2010: Brother Clyde's New Members
On June 30, 2010, Billy Ray Cyrus announced the new members of Brother Clyde: Samantha Maloney, Jamie Miller, Dan Knight, and Dave Henning. He also announced that their single, "Lately", was available on iTunes.
August 10, 2010: Brother Clyde's Debut Album
On June 30, 2010, Billy Ray Cyrus announced that Brother Clyde's debut album would be released on August 10, 2010.
November 2010: Suspension of Brother Clyde activities
In November 2010, Billy Ray Cyrus suspended his activities in the band Brother Clyde and announced the release of his new solo patriotic album, entitled I'm American.
2010: Participation in UFO: Unbelievably Freakin' Obvious
In 2010, Billy Ray Cyrus and his son Trace Cyrus were announced to be participating in a new Syfy reality series called UFO: Unbelievably Freakin' Obvious.
October 8, 2011: "Nineteen" charts on Hot Country Songs
On October 8, 2011, Billy Ray Cyrus's song "Nineteen" debuted on the Hot Country Songs chart at number 58, marking his first charted single since "A Good Day" in 2009.
2011: End of "Hannah Montana"
In 2011, Billy Ray Cyrus ended his role in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana.
December 23, 2012: End of Broadway engagement in Chicago
On December 23, 2012, Billy Ray Cyrus concluded his temporary engagement as Billy Flynn in the Broadway show Chicago.
2016: Starring in "Still the King"
In 2016, Billy Ray Cyrus started starring as Vernon Brownmule on the CMT sitcom Still the King.
2017: End of "Still the King"
In 2017, Billy Ray Cyrus finished his role in the CMT sitcom Still the King.
October 2019: "Old Town Road" receives diamond certification
In October 2019, the song "Old Town Road" which featured Billy Ray Cyrus, received diamond certification by the RIAA, selling over ten million units in the United States and becoming the fastest song to achieve this milestone.
2019: Number One Single with "Old Town Road"
In 2019, Billy Ray Cyrus earned his first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 as a featured artist on a remix of Lil Nas X's song "Old Town Road", which spent a record-breaking nineteen consecutive weeks at the top spot.
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