Exclusive: Jealous Billy Ray Cyrus Tried "Stealing" Miley's Spotlight

Entertainment February 25, 2011 AT 3:44PM By UsWeekly Staff

Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Fotonoticias/WireImage.com Jealous Billy Ray Cyrus Tried "Stealing" Miley's Spotlight

Billy Ray Cyrus played the part of a concerned father in a recent GQ interview, but the 49-year-old country crooner may have had ulterior motives for airing his family's dirty laundry.

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Referring to daughter Miley Cyrus' wild antics -- including a bong-smoking video and an onstage pole dance at the Teen Choice Awards -- the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer told the mag he's "scared" she'll wind up like other flamed-out icons Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith and Kurt Cobain.

PHOTOS: Miley Cyrus and other stars as kids!

But an insider tells the new issue of Us Weekly (on stands now) that Billy Ray -- who appeared alongside his daughter on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana for five years -- "totally pushed Miley into being a star!"

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Indeed, a second source tells Us that the Tennessee native's feelings stem more from jealousy than concern.

"He was always upset he didn't get as much attention as Miley," the source tells Us. "This is his way of stealing the spotlight."

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Billy Ray -- who's in the midst of a divorce with Tish Cyrus, his wife of 17 years -- told GQ that he never profited off his daughter's success, but a third insider scoffs at his claim. "Let's face it: Hannah Montana revived his career as much as it made Miley's," the insider tells Us.

For more details on how Billy Ray humiliated Miley -- and how she's now distancing herself from her father -- pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.

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February 27, 2011 - 10:20pm Gregg A. Acord
This is just all too sad..i really think Miley should step away from her family for a while and be on her own and grow as a person...she's 18 now so things had to change...she's growing up...billy shouldn't be acting like this..and i agree with whom ever said u cant raise ur child to be friends with them and not expect them to be screwed up...it's very true..Miley might not be a Celine...Carrie...Taylor..or Beyonce but with age comes more knowledge..she's learning..we all should give her CREDIT for that. #stoptheNEGATIVITY!! --G
February 27, 2011 - 1:24am Shannon Burmatoff
Bryan listen to yourself, you are the bully not me ( i never was)
February 26, 2011 - 11:01pm Shannon Burmatoff
Do you feel better now Bryan? lol
February 26, 2011 - 7:21pm Bryan Michael
Shannon... You have his hair style.. the early 90s one... It really works for a prison cook..
February 26, 2011 - 5:17pm Iliana Camarena
you both love each other and you should not be acting like this :(
February 26, 2011 - 2:15pm Tony Holuba
Billy Ray can out sing, out act, and do almost anything better than his no talent daughter. He made her not the other way around.
February 26, 2011 - 10:02am Heather Skye
She is a little b itch and sl ut but can't handle the truth. He's a coward and a lousy parent who let his trashy wife raise their daughter to be who she is today. He has himself to blame.
February 26, 2011 - 8:47am Meri Shardow
billy was a star b4 even his daughter was born,what do u mean he sold her story for me...miley needs to stepoff her high horse and be a good daughter> we all know the mom is a hoe...
February 25, 2011 - 7:23pm Sally Pham
agree*
February 25, 2011 - 7:23pm Sally Pham
I adree with Diana! And maybe for the fist time EVER, I agree with Shannon.
February 25, 2011 - 6:33pm Chibwe J Beel
Family is about love and protection, Miley may be growing up "too fast" but as her Father Billy should talk to her instead of sale her story for a couple of bucks, which is disgusting cos he should know better!
February 25, 2011 - 6:25pm Valerie J Loehr
she needs to quit being a stupid and he needs to admit that he didn't raise his daughter right.you cant be friends with your children and think they wont grow up screwed up.
February 25, 2011 - 5:49pm Kennadie Mandrell
He's making money off of her right now. The family is a turn off.
February 25, 2011 - 5:18pm Leslie Boyd
Oh PLEASE! His career was just fine BEFORE Hannah Montana! He was doing excellent on DOC! That show was a wonderful show! These "sources" are just made up just like they are on a few other articles recently!
February 25, 2011 - 5:05pm Joe Keilso
Who cares about that little wh*re? I hope she ends up in the dump like Lindsay and Britney. By then she'll be nothing more than some crack/rehab-addict skank trying to grab media attention. Sooner or later this rotten scum will disappear and no one will care about her anymore. Same goes for Vanessa Hudgens, that bimbo does nothing but sexualize herself. I hope these b**ches rot in hell.
February 25, 2011 - 4:51pm Shannon Burmatoff
Grow up Billy
February 25, 2011 - 4:23pm Diana Scott
He's disgusting. Just like Michael Lohan, and it's obvious he wanted to revive his fame from the beginning. Everyone caught on to that. It's not right for him to blame fame on Miley's behavior. She would have acted that way whether she was famous or not. You don't see Taylor Swift doing drugs and dancing on stripper poles, and if she does she does it in the privacy of her own home not exploiting all over the internet. I actually feel bad for Miley. You could tell she obviously had a very close relationship with her father and now he's turning on her. Poor kid.