NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Billy Ray Cyrus states the Disney television show “Hannah Montana” destroyed his family, causing his divorce and sending daughter Miley Cyrus spinning out of control.

In a December interview published in the Feb. 22 issue of GQ Magazine, Cyrus stated he wished the show that launched his daughter to pop stardom had never happened.

“I hate to state it, but yes, I do. Yeah. I’d take it back in a second,” Cyrus said. “For my family to be here and just be everybody OK, innocuous and sound and happy and normal, would have been fantastic. Heck, yeah. I’d erase it all in a second if I could.”

Cyrus and his wife, Tish, filed for divorce in October. They have three children together — Miley is the oldest — and two from Tish’s previous marriage.

Billy Ray Cyrus stated when he asked about the rumored video footage of his daughter smoking from a bong at her 18th birthday celebration in December, he was told it was none of his business. He refused to attend the party, saying it was wrong to have it in a bar.

Cyrus, a native of Flatwoods, Ky., had his own success as a country singer beginning in the primeval 1990s with his large hit “Achy Breaky Heart.”

Cyrus states in the interview that he tried too hard to be a friend instead of a parent to his daughter. He stated he is scared for Miley and compared her current path to those of other stars whose lives ended tragically, including Kurt Cobain, Anna Nicole Smith and Michael Jackson.

“I should have been a superior parent,” Cyrus said. “I should have said, ‘Enough is enough — it’s getting hazardous and somebody’s going to get hurt.’ I should have, but I didn’t. Honestly, I didn’t know the ball was out of bounds until it was way up in the stands somewhere.”

He stated his entire family was baptized before leaving Tennessee for Los Angeles to protect themselves from evil, and he believes Satan is attacking his family.

“It’s the way it is,” Cyrus said. “There has always been a effort between good and evil. Always will be. You think, ‘This is a chance to make family entertainment, bring families together …’ and look what it’s turned into.”

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Online:

http://www.gq.com