The Concerning Reason Why Billy Ray Cyrus' Performance Is Being Compared To 'A Star Is Born'

Billy Ray Cyrus' performance at President Donald Trump's inaugural Liberty Ball on January 20, 2025, became a hot topic of discussion after a series of technical mishaps and his polarizing stage presence. The country music star struggled through his set as fans witnessed a performance that many described as chaotic.

While performing "Old Town Road," Cyrus experienced equipment malfunctions that forced him to switch to an a cappella rendition before calling for help from the backstage crew.

At one moment, Billy Ray Cyrus was overheard questioning, "Is my guitar still on?" and voicing his frustration with, "Is anyone awake?"

The troubles began mid-performance when Cyrus noticed an issue with his guitar. "I don't hear it? Do y'all hear it?" he asked the crowd before turning toward the crew. "Is anyone back there? Can somebody turn my guitar back on? We're going to sing a bit more."

In a moment of frustration, Cyrus joked about the situation, asking the audience, "Y'all want me to sing more, or you just want me to get the hell off the stage? I don't give a damn." A crew member eventually came on stage to fix the problem, allowing him to resume the set.

Despite the difficulties, Cyrus attempted to keep the crowd engaged. "When you have technical difficulties, you got to just keep going," he said. "Or, as President Trump would say, you got to fight!"

However, the performance continued to draw criticism from fans on social media, many of whom took issue with Cyrus' gruff-sounding voice.

"Billy Ray Cyrus' performance at Donald Trump's inaugural Liberty Ball is an epic disaster," one person wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

"That Billy Ray Cyrus' performance' at Liberty Ball was absolutely pathetic. Worst sh-t I've seen in a while," another commented. A third added, "It seems that Billy Ray Cyrus had a LOT more than just TECHNICAL ISSUES going on at the Liberty Ball just now!"

Several TikTok users said his performance reminded them of Jackson Maine in "A Star Is Born," adding that Billy Ray needs to go to rehab and get help.

"It's so sad. Reminds me of that scene in 'A Star is Born' when Bradley Cooper is on stage all messed up," one user claimed.

"Imagine him waking up today realizing what happened …..poor guy needs help where are his people," another said.

"It was so painfully awkward to watch. I grew up a Billy Ray fan so I was a tad sad," someone else wrote.

The comments of concern continued to pour in, with one social media user expressing, "This broke my heart…he was such a heartthrob back in the day. It's not funny, this man needs help… many prayers that he gets help!"

"It Was Very Sad ...Prayers for him," another individual wrote as someone else said, "Oh wow….this is beyond sad on so many levels."

The technical problems extended beyond Cyrus's performance.

Earlier in the day, Carrie Underwood encountered similar difficulties when her backing track failed, forcing her to deliver an a capella rendition of "America the Beautiful."

Unfazed, Underwood swiftly evaluated the situation and decided to perform a cappella. With confidence and charm, she invited the audience to participate, saying, "If you know the words, help me out here."

Despite adapting to the situation, Underwood was reportedly frustrated by the inadequate performance setup.