Billy Ray wrote that Miley gave him “the gift of music” for his 64th birthday

Billy Ray Cyrus; Miley Cyrus.Credit : Billy Ray Cyrus/Instagram; John Nacion/Variety via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Billy Ray Cyrus shared a snippet of a new song written by Miley Cyrus
Billy Ray said Miley shared the song, titled “Secrets,” with him for his birthday
“Secrets” features an assist from Fleetwood Mac

Billy Ray Cyrus celebrated his birthday with a very special gift from his daughter Miley Cyrus — an unreleased song that includes some rock royalty.

Billy Ray turned 64 on Monday, Aug. 25 and marked the occasion by sharing a snippet of the song that Miley, 32, wrote for him, titled “Secrets.” The country star said Miley had even recruited members of Fleetwood Mac to play on the track.

“For my birthday, Miley gave me the gift of music and wrote me a song called Secrets and got my favorite musicians Fleetwood Mac to play on it! I love you Mile ❤️” Billy Ray wrote on Instagram.

In a video, Billy Ray roams a large grassy field while listening to the song on his phone. The song features ‘80s-inspired guitars, and lyrics like, “Secrets, I want to keep your secrets/Like sunlight in the shadows/Like footsteps in the grass/I won’t ever break my promise/Like a songbird in the silence/Like stones against the glass.”

Band members Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood play on the song, and both are credited on the track.

Miley previously teased the song in a June interview on Monica Lewinsky’s podcast, saying tension between her and her father that they’ve since resolved inspired the track, and it’s part of a new album she’s currently working on.

“I wrote this song about my dad,” she said, “because I wanted him to tell me even though there were secrets, even though I didn’t really want to know. I wanted to be the one he felt safe enough to tell me the things that were damning and damaging to the family. I wanted him to think that as a middle child, I’m old enough that I could take some of that.”

The “Flowers” singer said that she and her family members are currently on good terms after what she described as a “dark decade” that included the divorce of her parents Billy Ray and Tish in 2022.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus on The Voice.Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

“Half of us weren’t speaking to each other at one point, and we cleaned all that up. That was a really important part of my year this year, was all of my family putting those lines of communication back together. A lot because of, you know, I had a lot of loyalty to my mom, the way that families do when parents get divorced,” she said.

Miley went on to explain that she ultimately resolved the situation by embracing joy.

“I just kind of bust through the pile that’s stacked, and just go, ‘I’m here. You’re here. Let’s start by having a good time together,’” she said. “And then as we start bringing some happiness and joy into each other’s life, then we’ll just be in a better place to have these conversations. ‘Cause I’d rather get it balanced first.”

Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus attend the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas in May 2017.John Shearer/BBMA2017/Getty

Billy Ray and girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley supported Miley in June at a London premiere event for her latest album Something Beautiful.

Hurley, 60, also weighed in on Miley’s new song for her dad in the comments section of Billy Ray’s birthday post, writing, “Happy Birthday and what a beautiful video to a beautiful song by your beautiful daughter ❤️❤️❤️.”

To celebrate his big day, Billy Ray also released a new version of his hit 1992 single “Achy Breaky Heart,” alongside a nostalgic video that featured clips of him with Hurley and throwback clips.

“This year, for my birthday, I wanted to give something back,” he wrote. “From the very first time I sang ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ in the spring of ’91 to this remix today, it’s all because of YOU. I teamed up with Don Von Tress and The Johnson Mill Branch Boys on a brand-new Achy Breaky Heart (Remix) as my gift to the fans. None of this would have been possible without the support of y’all through the years. Hope you enjoy this birthday present from me to you. 💔🎶🎸.”