Billy Ray Cyrus is wasting no time in following up his months-old Disney Records debut.
The 46-year-old country singer is already in the studio.
"I don't have any time to waste," he said, talking on his cell phone as he and his 8-year-old daughter, Noah, zoomed through Malibu Canyon, heading to the Disney studios in Los Angeles.
"We started with a song I wrote called 'Back to Tennessee,'" Cyrus said, then explained he's heading home to Nashville to film the Disney movie for "Hannah Montana."
"I'm so fired up about going home," he said. "I get to be home for four or five months."
Cyrus and his clan — wife Leticia, daughters Miley (pop superstar and star of Disney's "Hannah Montana") and Noah (a budding little actress), and son Braison Chance — are relocating to Nashville this month. They'll be there at least through June, when filming is expected to wrap up.
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In addition to the movie, Cyrus will spend his time at home hosting NBC's country music talent show "Nashville Star." On most weekends, he and his band also will be on the road playing fairs and festivals, starting with next weekend's Country Thunder USA in Florence.
"I couldn't shut my tour down after the last year just because the band was playing so well," Cyrus said. "We're actually just so tight and so hot together. It was too much fun."
Cyrus' music career resurrection comes nearly 16 years after he scored his one and only No. 1 hit, "Achy Breaky Heart." The song pushed Cyrus' 1992 album debut, "Some Gave All," to the top of the Billboard chart for 17 weeks and propelled sales past 9 million. And it was likely his undoing. It took him until earlier this year to shed his one-hit wonder reputation. That came when "Ready, Set, Don't Go," off "Home," landed in the country Top 10.
Since 2000, Cyrus has put music in the background and focused on Hollywood. He appeared for four seasons in the title role of the PAX TV series "Doc," and appeared in several TV shows and movies. In 2006, he landed on Disney with daughter Miley.
While Miley has become arguably America's biggest teen star, Cyrus is quietly reclaiming his music. And he's loving every second of the journey.
What else is on this album?
"The second song we cut is a Sheryl Crow song called 'Real Gone.' It's just a real fun rocker that's just fun to play."
You are getting a huge second wind to this career.
"It's been a lot of fun, it really has. . . . Obviously this acting stuff has sort of taken on its own life. . . . I'm lovin' what I'm doin' right now. I love acting. I love making music. It's extremely exciting to be back on radio. Somehow I found my spot in the industry and a spot where I get to do both.
"We're real excited about Country Thunder. We're fired up about being with the band. . . . We've played Country Thunder before and it's a great event. It's just packed — packed full of fans that love country music."
Will you preview some of the new material?
"I think so. By then, 'Back to Tennessee' and probably this Sheryl Crow song 'Real Gone' . . . will be in the repertoire."
Will you do another duet with Miley?
"You know what, I let whatever's meant to be, is what happens. If something falls in line and it feels like it's meant to be, it'll happen. But you'll see this from the Cyrus family. We don't do a lot of preplanning. We play everything by ear. We play music by ear. We act by ear. And we play life by ear. We just kind of go with the flow. What's meant to be is what happens.
"I'll leave you with this: My dad always said if you love what you do for a living you never have to work another day in your life. It's all about attitude. Sometimes when things don't go your way, you just got to adjust your attitude." If you go
● Billy Ray Cyrus performs at Country Thunder at 7p.m. April 19. For full lineup and details, see Page 6.
