The CMA Music Festival on June 8th was a night full of great surprises and spectacular performances, and among those who made a big splash was country singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus.

Cyrus, who plays Robert Ray Stewart on Disney’s hit series, Hannah Montana, came out on stage as the third performer, wearing jeans and a long tailed shirt and sporting a fedora on his head. Upon walking out, he was met with a standing ovation and thunderous applause. He began his set with a rendition of his 1992 hit, “Could’ve Been Me.”
He then went on to promote Hannah Montana, a show that has him acting alongside his daughter, Miley Cyrus, and continued with the song, “Ready, Set, Don’t Go,” which the country crooner said will be the debut single from his upcoming album.

Apart from his singing career, Cyrus has also busied himself with other worthy projects. In addition to his work on Hannah Montana, he participated in this year’s recently concluded Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with Karina Smirnoff, and although he did not always receive favorable comments from the show’s judges, he managed to make it all the way to the Final Five.

His other acting credits include the films Radical Jack and Mulholland Drive and the television series Doc, The Nanny, Diagnosis Murder, Love Boat, The Next Wave, 18 Wheels of Justice and Degrassi: The Next Generation. He has also dabbled in the theater, having played the role of Frank Butler in a production of Annie Get Your Gun.

During his performance at the CMA Music Festival, Cyrus took the time to thank the audience for having supported his participation in Dancing with the Stars, but was quick to add, “I’ll never do that again.” He then continued to woo the crowd by performing another one of his hits, “Brown Eyed Girl.”

Cyrus also had some words of praise for America and its soldiers, finishing his speech with the song, “Some Gave All.” Finally, he closed his set by belting out his chart-topping single, “Achy-Breaky Heart,” to the delight of the crowd.

Other country artists who took to the stage that night include Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and LeAnn Rimes.

-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

Source: CMT

(Photo Courtesy of www.rollingstone.com)