Billy Ray Cyrus

William Ray Billy Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter and actor.

William Ray Cyrus was born on August 25, 1961 in Flatwoods, Kentucky, to Ron Cyrus, a politician and former steelworker, and his wife, the former Ruth Ann Casto. Cyrus started singing at the age of four. His parents divorced in 1966. His grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher. Growing up, he was surrounded by bluegrass and gospel music from his family. His righthanded father played guitar. Lefthanded Cyrus tried to play his fathers guitar, but could not. He attended Georgetown College on a baseball scholarship before changing to music. He dropped out of Georgetown during his junior year, realized he wanted to become a musician after attending a Neil Diamond concert, and set a 10month goal to start a career. In the 1980s, he played in a band called Sly Dog, before signing a record contract with Mercury Nashville Records. Sly Dog was named after a oneeyed dog that Cyrus owned.

Source: Wikipedia