Billy Ray Cyrus says his family was torn apart by the success of daughter Miley's Disney hit "Hannah Montana" — and that there's "no doubt" the family was attacked by Satan.
In a stunning GQ interview, the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer traces his family's collapse to their arrival in Hollywood, when Miley would point out a sign on the way to the "Hannah Montana" studio each morning that said "ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY: ATHEISTS UNITED."
"A physical sign," he said. "It could have easily said 'You will now be attacked by Satan.' Entering this industry, you are now on the highway to darkness…'"
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Asked if he really believed his family was attacked, he said, "I think we are right now. No doubt. There's no doubt about it."
Cyrus, who filed for divorce from Miley's mother, Tish, in October, said he hoped his daughter wouldn't follow the destructive path of Kurt Cobain, Anna Nicole Smith and Michael Jackson. "I don't know. I'm her daddy so maybe I'm a little sensitive to it, but now's a real good time to make sure everything's okay," he said. "An ounce of prevention's worth a pound of cure."
Among other revealations in the story:
-He didn't talk to his daughter in the week after photos of her emerged smoking from a bong (which her reps said included only the legal substance salvia)
-Cyrus says his daughter would never have appeared in "Hannah Montana" if not for his own role in David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive"
-He and Cobain were friends who bonded over having young daughters
Yes, that's right. Billy Ray Cyrus and Kurt Cobain were pals. If you read one story about a country star/celebrity dad this year, make it GQ's.