Billy Ray Cyrus's Career Has Been Wild And Honestly It's Pretty Impressive

    It all started with a mullet and now he’s topping the charts with Lil Nas X.

    Krista Torres
    by Krista Torres

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Let's travel back to 1992 – when Billy's hit song "Achey Breaky Heart" became an international success.

    And the music video for it actually pushed line dancing into a mainstream, global craze. I think I can see some Miley in those moves.

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    Another trend he pushed into a mainstream, global craze? THE MULLET.

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    Obviously Billy wasn't the first country artist to ever rock a mullet, but he was the one who made it an iconic look after the success of "Achey Breaky Heart."

    During his massive career success in 1992, he also had two kids! He had Destiny Hope (that's Miley ppl) with Tish Finley and a son named Christopher Cody, who is Miley's half brother.

    So, yes, 1992 was QUITE THE YEAR for Billy...and so were the rest of the '90s. And, yes, he continued to rock the mullet.

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    His album, Some Gave All, was certified nine times Multi-Platinum in the United States in 1996, and has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. During that time, he married Tish Finley and adopted her two kids, Brandi and Trace. He then had two more kids with her – Braison and Noah.

    Now you're probably thinking when the 2000s hit, Billy laid low, stayed in the country genre, and just worked on taking care of his mullet. But you would be WRONG!

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    Billy went...Christian! Yup, that happened.

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    He released two Christian albums – Time Flies and The Other Side.

    In 2001, Billy also starred as Dr. Clint "Doc" Cassidy in the medical drama Doc. Yes, that's Billy prescribing things for your "achey breaky heart!"

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    The Christian show was about a Montana doctor who took a job in New York City. The series ran for five seasons.

    After that, Billy moved into the Disney scene alongside Miley in Hannah Montana – which aired from 2006 to 2011. You know this.

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    In 2007, Walt Disney Records released Billy's album Home At Last, which debuted at number three on country charts.

    While filming Hannah Montana in 2009 and 2010, Billy formed an alternative rock group called Brother Clyde. It featured Billy alongside musicians Samantha Maloney, Jamie Miller, Dan Knight, and Dave Henning. I know, another 180.

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    The band released one single called "Lately."

    After his stint in alternative rock, Billy went back solo with a patriotic album called I'm American. Oh, and I'm happy to report the mullet made another appearance.

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    He also released another solo album in 2012 called Change My Mind.

    Fast forward to late 2018 when LIAM HEMSWORTH became Billy's son through his marriage to Miley. This man's life, I swear!

    Then, in April of this year, Billy and Lil Nas X recorded a remix of the rapper’s smash song “Old Town Road.” Billy all like, "I've done everything but rap, let's do this!"

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    The remix rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Billy his first number one song on the Hot 100.

    Which brings us to today, where Billy has successfully combined country music and rap. What a time to be alive.

    Billy Ray: The man who started with a country song and a mullet now has a 10-week-long Billboard hit and equally long – but mullet-free – hair! Dreams do come true!

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