Cyrus was born William Ray Cyrus in Flatwoods August 25 1961, Kentucky to Ron Cyrus, a politician, and his wife, the former Ruth Ann Adkins. Growing up, he was surrounded by bluegrass and gospel music from his family. His father, a right-handed man, played guitar. Billy Ray on the other hand was a lefty. He tried to play his father's guitar, but could never learn. His grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher. Cyrus went to college at Georgetown College on a baseball scholarship before switching his focus to music. From 1980–90, Cyrus played at bars before getting a record deal with...