How Reba McEntire Played A Role In Billy Ray Cyrus' Success

Publish date: 2024-05-05

After his first shot at making a living as a performer in Los Angeles proved fruitless, Billy Ray Cyrus returned to Kentucky and began performing with his band Sly Dog again. Per Louisville Music News, the group scored a steady gig at the Ragtime Lounge in Huntington, West Virginia, and Cyrus spent his time off looking for other opportunities in Nashville. It was there that he met Del Reeves through his daughter, per the Los Angeles Times, and the country icon hooked Cyrus up with his manager, Jack McFadden. Attempts at shopping demo tapes around were unsuccessful, but after Mercury Records exec Buddy Cannon saw Cyrus open for Reba McEntire during a show in Louisville, Kentucky, the singer finally got his long-awaited recording contract.

However, Cyrus still had dues to pay. On "The Big Interview," he revealed that he was living in his Chevy Beretta when he recorded his debut album, "Some Gave All." The record would become 1992's top seller, per the Los Angeles Times. It included a little ditty called "Achy Breaky Heart," and the video that Mercury Records filmed to accompany the song helped Cyrus become an achy breaky heartthrob, per USA Today. TV Guide even turned McEntire into a Cyrus fangirl on the cover of a 1992 issue. She had a wide smile on her face, while hugging Cyrus tightly from behind, as the cover line read, "Sobbin', Throbbin Reba: Eeeeyow, Billy Ray!'"

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