Country music star allegedly threatened son with legal action after Trump concert disaster

Just days after he made a public plea for his father to seek help, Trace Cyrus, the son of country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, said his father is “taking legal action” against him.

Trace Cyrus made the emotional plea to his father on Instagram in the wake of Billy Ray’s performance at President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

That performance was so bad that some fans worried on social media about Billy Ray’s health. Trace seemed to add credibility to the idea that something may have been wrong with his father with the post in which he wrote, “Sadly, the man that I wanted to desperately to be just like I barely recognize now. It seems this world has beaten you down and it’s obvious to everyone but you.

“As I write this with tears in my eyes I hope you realize this message only comes from a place of love and also fear that the world may lose you far too soon,” Trace wrote. “I love you, Dad.”

Billy Ray apparently heard the message and didn’t appreciate it.

“Dad my message was beyond loving,” Trace returned to Instagram to write on Jan. 25. “I could have been extremely honest about a lot more but I don’t want to put your business out there like that.

“But for you to threaten me with legal action for wanting you to get help is a disgrace,” he continued. “Pappy is looking down at you with such disappointment I can assure you. You should be ashamed of yourself. I will always love you but I no longer respect you as a man. Everyone close to you is terrified to tell you how they really feel. I’m not.

“Get help.”

Trace Cyrus also had an Instagram story Saturday in which he said he still had not heard from his father.

“He did contact a family member to let me know he’s taking legal action against me for encouraging him to get help,” he wrote. “Dad I (live) 30 miles away from you. You could’ve just come & talked to me like a man.”

Billy Ray Cyrus performed at Monday’s Liberty Ball following Donald Trump’s inauguration.

What made it so bad? Well, if you missed it, Cyrus was hit with a slew of technical issues, claiming he couldn’t get his guitar turned on at one point.

“Is my guitar still on,” he wondered aloud. “I think they cut me off. Is my guitar, OK? I don’t hear my guitar anymore. Check. Ah, check. Is anybody awake? I don’t hear it? Does anyone hear this?”

He didn’t seem to be getting must interaction from the folks on the stage, until finally someone came out and tinkered with the guitar.

“I bet I got excited and unplugged it,” he said.

He also appeared to be lip syncing, and when he did take the mic and start singing without music … well, he didn’t sound good.

“Trump needs to pardon Billy Ray Cyrus for that performance because it was a crime,” Brooks Johnson posted on X.

Country music website Whiskey Riff called it a “train wreck,” and wrote that Cyrus eventually appeared to be escorted off the stage after they turned the lights off on him.

Cyrus addressed the performance on Instagram on Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not,” he wrote. “I was there because President Donald J. Trump invited me. I had a ball at the Liberty Ball last night and I’ve learned through all these years when the producer says ‘you’re on,’ you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell. I was there for the people and we had a blast. That’s called rock n roll!!!”