Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus Had a Hit Song Together

Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus both have hit songs under their belt, but only one was a duet from the two. The track in question came from a popular movie. In addition, it was written by one of the biggest pop songwriters of all time.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus did a song written by Michael Jackson’s songwriter

Hannah Montana: The Movie was a big moment in the Cyruses’ career since both of them starred in it. It was only fitting that they would sing a song together for the film. The two performed a duet for Hannah Montana: The Movie called “Butterfly Fly Away.” The track was produced by Glen Ballard, the songwriter behind hits like Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,” and Aerosmith’s “Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees).”

During a 2009 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Billy Ray said he enjoyed filming the scene where his character performs “Butterfly Fly Away” in Hannah Montana: The Movie. “It felt like a pretty special moment,” he said. “The song itself was written by Glen Ballard, a masterful songwriter who wrote ‘Man in the Mirror’ for Michael Jackson. I knew it was a pretty special song, and it was reminiscent of a song I wrote for Miley called ‘Ready, Set, Don’t Go.’ It was kind of that same sentiment, and it certainly comes at a nice spot in the movie.”

“Butterfly Fly Away” uses the metaphor of a butterfly’s life cycle to describe a young woman growing up. It works well in the film. Furthermore, it made sense for that moment in Miley’s career. After Hannah Montana ended, her image only got more and more adult.

Billy ray Cyrus said ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ reflected real life

Billy Ray revealed that the musicality of Hannah Montana: The Movie reflected Miley’s early life. “Miley grew up with Ed King, who wrote ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ sitting outside the house playing guitar,” he recalled. “Waylon Jennings was like a grandfather to Miley. 

“Johnny Cash was a good friend and wrote me a letter from the heart that hung on the wall that Miley walked by every day,” he said. “It was a little statement about keeping the music real and that all things are good that come from God Almighty up above. Just a beautiful statement of Johnny Cash.” “Butterfly Fly Away” isn’t exactly a Cash song but it reflects the pop superstar’s country roots.

‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ was bigger than Miley Cyrus’ ‘Bangerz’

“Butterfly Fly Away” peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100. It stayed on the chart for three weeks. That might not sound like much, but it’s actually one of the bigger songs from the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer‘s career.

The soundtrack of Hannah Montana: The Movie was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for one week, spending a total of 71 weeks on the chart. This might surprise some fans, but the soundtrack lasted on the Billboard 200 longer than any of Miley’s post-Hannah Montana albums, including the career-defining Bangerz, which includes “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball.”

“Butterfly Fly Away” is a cute song that features one the biggest father-daughter duos in popular culture.