Born on August 25, 1961, in Flatwoods, Kentucky, Billy Ray Cyrus was raised in a family with deep musical roots. His father, a farmer, played the guitar, and his mother, a homemaker, encouraged his musical interests from an early age. Growing up in rural Kentucky, Cyrus was inspired by the sounds of country, rock, and blues.
He attended Morehead State University, where he played football and studied music. While at university, Cyrus decided to pursue a career in music, leading him to Nashville, Tennessee, the heart of country music. His journey to stardom began in the late 1980s when he started performing at local venues.