Entertainment
Billy Ray Cyrus’ performance at Trump inauguration branded an ‘epic disaster’ after he asks if anybody’s awake-Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro
Viewers were left ’embarrassed’.

Billy Ray Cyrus faced technical issues while performing at Trump’s inauguration (Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Music didn’t seem to be working out at the inauguration of Donald Trump as performers were plagued by technical difficulties.
First, there was an emergency a capella moment from country singer Carrie Underwood, who was already facing backlash for being involved at all.
Then came Billy Ray Cyrus’ chaotic performance, which viewers have declared was an ‘epic disaster’ after his guitar was silenced and the lights cut out.
The 62-year-old singer was interacting with the crowd during Old Town Road — a song he collaborated on in 2019 with Lil Nas X.
He then returned to the microphone stand to sing his biggest hit, 1992’s Achy Breaky Heart, but there was no sound coming from his guitar.
‘Is my guitar still on? I think they cut me off,’ he said moments after claiming he was asked to fill time at the Liberty Ball.
He asked if anyone was ‘awake’ as his guitar stopped working (Picture: REUTERS)
Cyrus, who is the father of Miley Cyrus, continued: ‘Is my guitar on guys? I don’t hear my guitar anymore. Uh, check, is anybody awake?’
He continued to lift up his guitar and speak to the tech support off-stage, before adding: ‘I don’t hear it? Do ya’ll hear it? Is anyone back there?
‘Can somebody turn my guitar back on? We’re going to sing a bit more.’
The guitar still didn’t get switched back on and Cyrus asked the crowd if they wanted another song or not, as he doesn’t ‘give a damn’ either way.
Another clip showed him walking around in the dark after the stage lights went off, holding the microphone to his mouth to no avail.
He was said to be ushered off stage by security after the microphone was turned off as he was wandering around, unsure where to go.
He also was plunged into darkness during one bizarre moment (Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Viewers were startled by his appearance (Picture: AFF-USA/REX/Shutterstock)
Viewers began roasting the performance on X, with Art Candee sharing a clip and branding it an ‘epic disaster’.
Alleliterocker wrote: ‘This is so cringe… he also doesn’t sound well… also those are the only two songs he knows now.’
‘How embarrassing for Billy Ray Cyrus!’ said Sarah. ‘He can’t even sing anymore! I actually feel slightly bad for the guy.’
Plenty of comments were comparing Cyrus’ unkempt beard and overall look to Rob Zombie, frontman of the heavy metal group White Zombie.
‘Hey Billy, Rob Zombie called He wants his look back from the 90’s
,’ joked Chaincho.
Some compared the look to that of metal singer Rob Zombie, pictured. (PIcture: David A. Smith/Getty Images)
Cyrus is estranged from his famous daughter Miley (Picture: John Shearer/BBMA2017/Getty Images for dcp)
‘When did he start looking like Rob Zombie?’ asked KLightningBolt as Nancy Sidley said: ‘Rob Zombie doesn’t look well.’
One rogue comment even compared him to Worzel Gummidge from the hit BBC show starring Jon Pertwee, which aired in the 80s.
Others pointed out Old Town Road isn’t Cyrus’ song, instead, he was brought in on a remix of Lil Nas X’s already popular track.
Brittmarie shared: ‘Vocals aside, the way they’re singing along to a song @LilNasX wrote about gay sex is SENDING ME .’
Carrie Underwood was left without a backing track (Picture: REUTERS)
We’re not sure those at the Trump inauguration are aware of Old Town Road’s subtext — but they did also get a rendition of The Village People’s Y.M.C.A.
Meanwhile, Underwood’s performance faced similar difficulties with the Before He Cheats hitmaker forced to sing without a backing track.
She arrived to sing America the Beautiful but the music cut off, with Underwood calling to the crowd to sing along.
‘You know the words, help me out here,’ she said when the music failed to return, with the audience joining in.
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