Billy Ray Cyrus is used to getting people out on the dance floor. The Achy Breaky Heart country music phenomenon has long had a gift for entertaining. So I wasn’t surprised to discover that the singer, songwriter, producer and actor was kicking up a little comedy these days. I was thrilled to catch up with Cyrus for my podcast Whine At 9 where we discussed his fascinating journey and starring role as a former country music star turned dysfunctional Elvis impersonator, turned imposter preacher in CMT’s new sitcom Still the King.
When his parents divorced, 5-year-old Billy Ray Cyrus felt like “the odd man out” in the neighborhood. The grandson of a Pentecostal preacher from Flatwoods, Kentucky, it wasn’t the norm to be from a divorced family. At an early age, Cyrus recognized the power of humor. He recalls praying every night for God to make him funny and give him that edge. My short conversation with Cyrus led to some touching disclosures, but an award-winning sense of humor is also something the artist can’t hide. And now, he’s in a position to generate even more laughter.
CMT’s Still the King features Cyrus as Elvis/preacher impersonator Vernon Brownmule, a one-hit-wonder who learns he is a dad 15 years after the fact. And Cyrus is having a blast in the role. “I have to say, every step I ever took in my life was kind of leading me to this moment as an actor. I play a dysfunctional Elvis impersonator who lies his way into the church as a preacher only to find out he has a 15-year-old daughter he never knew existed. So, it’s like—how can you go wrong from that?”
Watch the trailer of Still the King
Cyrus admits that the premise has created the perfect sitcom storm. And he’s drawn from a few life experiences. “There’s always a little bit of art imitating life imitating art in everything I do. Certainly as a singer-songwriter and as an actor. Vernon may have even a little more than most. There’s a whole lot of real life becoming part of this art…It’s just a wonderful mayhem moment.”
Every piece of the Still the King puzzle seems to please Cyrus. “We’ve got great writers. We’ve had great directors. A great cast (Cyrus shares the screen with Joey Lauren Adams, Madison Iseman and Kevin P. Farley.) Great support from CMT in saying, ‘You know, hey, this is about art….no rules, no limits, no preconceived notions, just make your art.’ And that’s great guidelines to go by.”
Given the comedy power of the cast, it can sometimes be difficult to keep in character on the set. “When you’re working with true comedians you find yourself laughing and it’s contagious,” Cyrus says. “Laughter is contagious.”
His journey has been a fascinating one for which Cyrus is grateful. And Still the King—infused with music and humor, seems to be the perfect place for Cyrus to land for awhile. “It has been my major goal throughout life—if I can make people laugh. If they can sing. And if they can dance, then I’m doing what I love to do, yet fulfilling a bit of my purpose.”
Watch Still the King on CMT Sundays, 9 p.m. ET.
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