Billy Ray Cyrus surprised by Vanity Fair photo
NEW YORK (AP) - June 17, 2008 "I wasn't there at the time," the 46-year-old country star
said in an interview Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show.
"(Miley's) publicist was there, and everyone seemed in
control," he said. "I didn't know they (were) gonna strip her
down and wrap her with a blanket."
"So I was surprised when I saw it, you know, but ... stuff
happens. That's life. Things happen and sometimes things get a
little out of control and you just gotta deal with life," he said.
"Again, it's peaks and valleys and ups and downs."
Cyrus, who co-stars with Miley in Disney Channel's "Hannah
Montana," said Leibovitz was a "good person and a great
photographer" but looking back, he would have stayed to chaperone
the photo shoot.
Another photo in the Vanity Fair spread that caused a stir was
the image of Miley in a black tank top that revealed her midriff as
Cyrus held her in his arms.
When asked if that photo was a mistake, Cyrus said: "It's not a
mistake to me. If it is to someone else, I'm sorry if I offended
somebody, but no, that's just a daddy that loves his daughter a
whole lot."
Cyrus said he and Miley "got caught up in this adventure that
we've gone through with this dream, and what we do for a living.
... We both love acting, we love making music and we love each
other. I'm her dad and she's my daughter, so if a daddy hasn't
hugged his daughter recently, I'd recommend he does."
