Billy Ray Cyrus Performance Sparks 'A Star Is Born' Comparisons.

Billy Ray Cyrus' performance at President Donald trump's inaugural Liberty Ball on January 20, 2025 became a hotly debated topic 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 an equipment malfunction that forced him to switch to an a cappella rendition before calling for help from the backstage crew.

At one point, Billy Ray Cyrus was heard asking, “Is my guitar still on?” and expressing his displeasure with, “Is anyone awake?”

Trouble started in the middle of the performance when Cyrus noticed a problem with his guitar. “I can't hear it? Can you all hear it?” he asked the crowd before turning to the crew. “Is anyone back there? Can someone turn on my guitar? We're going to sing a little more.”

In a moment of frustration, Cyrus joked about the situation, asking the audience, “You want me to sing more or you just want me to get off the stage? I don't think so.” A crew member eventually came on stage to fix the problem, allowing him to resume filming.

Despite his struggles, Cyrus tried to keep the crowd going. “If you have technical difficulties, you just have to keep going,” he said. “Or, as President Trump would say, you have to fight back!”

However, the performance continued to draw criticism from fans on social media, many of whom expressed doubts about Cyrus' rough voice.

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

“That Billy Ray Cyrus performance at the Liberty Ball was absolutely pathetic. Worst horror I've seen in a while,” commented another. A third added: “Looks like Billy Ray Cyrus had a LOT more than just a TECHNICAL PROBLEM that just happened at the Liberty Ball!”

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.

“This is so sad. Reminds me of that scene in A Star Is Born when Bradley Cooper is on stage and everything is messed up,” one user claimed.

“Imagine if he wakes up today and realizes what happened… poor guy needs help where are his people,” said another.

“It was so painfully embarrassing to watch. I grew up a Billy Ray fan so I was a bit sad,” wrote another.

Distressed comments continued to pour in, with one social media user saying: “It broke my heart…he was such a heartbreaker at the time. It's not funny, this man needs help…lots of prayers for him to get help!”

“It was very sad…Prayers for him,” another person wrote, as another said: “Oh my… this is so sad on so many levels.”

The technical issues overshadowed Cyrus' performance.

earlier in the day, Carrie Underwood faced similar difficulties when her backing track failed, forcing her to perform an a capella rendition of “America the Beautiful.”

Unfazed, Underwood quickly assessed 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 here.”

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