NEWSBilly Ray "Amazed" by Miley's Fortitude
May 22 2008, Published 10:00 a.m. ET
It’s been quite a roller-coaster month—let alone life—for Miley Cyrus, but she’s definitely hanging in there, according to dad Billy Ray.
“I can't imagine being her age and going through what she went through,” the country singer and host of the upcoming season of NBC reality hit Nashville Star tells OK!. “I’m amazed she kept on.”
In the wake of a few minor scandals, the 15-year-old sensation has had to weather some harsh criticism. All of which had Billy Ray, as a father and a jaded show biz vet, worried.
“I know the business can eat you alive, but I’m a calloused old veteran, and she’s a young, teenage girl,” he says. “It’s a heck of a storm to survive even with maturity.”
Father and daughter are currently hard at work on the Hannah Montana movie, only the latest project on his daughter’s overflowing plate. Being the protective father that he is, Billy Ray admits he’d like Miley to slow it down a notch.
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“I tell her to get some sleep,” he says. “I swear I would try to protect her as far as sleep goes.”
But don’t expect the 46-year-old to practice what he preaches. Between the film, his new album, Back to Tennessee, and hosting Nashville Star, Billy Ray says there aren’t enough hours in the day for beauty rest.
“I’m going to fit that into next year’s schedule,” he jokes. “My motto is ‘Sleep when you’re dead.’”
The new season of Nashville Star debuts Monday, June 9 @ 9:30pm ET on NBC.
By Alisandra Puliti
