Billy Ray Cyrus performing at the Liberty Ball in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025.Photo:AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Billy Ray Cyrus performs at the Liberty Ball during the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington.

AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Billy Ray Cyrusis clapping back following criticism he received for his inauguration appearance.

On Jan. 22, the country singer, 63, posted onInstagram, responding to negative feedback he received online for his performance atDonald Trump’sinauguration Liberty Ballon Monday, Jan. 20.

Billy Ray Cyrus at the Liberty Ball in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025.Joe Raedle/Getty

Billy Ray Cyrus performs during the Liberty Inaugural Ball where President Donald Trump is expected later in the evening on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump attends some of the inaugural balls after taking the oath as the 47th president.

Joe Raedle/Getty

At the inaugural event, Cyrus experienced technical difficulties during hisbizarreperformances of “Achy Breaky Heart” and his Lil Nas X collab “Old Town Road.”

“Check? Is anybody awake?” Cyrus asked at one point, looking backstage for assistance. “Y’all want me to sing more or you want me to just get the hell off the stage?” the singer quipped, adding: “In life, when you have technical difficulties, you just gotta keep going, or as President Trump would say, ‘You gotta fight.'”

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Cyrus previously spoke about his performance on Jan. 21 withan exclusive statement to PEOPLE.

“I wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not. I was there because President Donald J. Trump invited me,” Cyrus said at the time. “I had a ball at the Liberty Ball last night and I’ve learned through all these years when the producer says, ‘You’re on,’ you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell. I was there for the people and we had a blast. That’s called rock n roll!!!”

Billy Ray Cyrus performing at the Liberty Ball in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025.Joe Raedle/Getty

Billy Ray Cyrus performs during the Liberty Inaugural Ball where President Donald Trump is expected later in the evening on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump attends some of the inaugural balls after taking the oath as the 47th president

TheHannah Montanaactor wasn’t the only artist to experience technical difficulties during the inauguration.

The music forCarrie Underwood’srendition of “America the Beautiful"glitched right before she performed in the Capitol rotunda, where theAmerican Idolalum ended up singing a cappella.

“You know the words,” she told the inauguration attendees, encouraging them to join in.

source: people.com