Miley Cyrus' formerly famous father Billy Ray Cyrus has talked about her daughter's recent string of controversy. Despite getting his heart broken, he still considers her as Daddy's little girl.

Billy Ray Cyrus, who became a country superstar two decades ago with his hit song "Achy Breaky Heart" was not a picture of a proud father beaming with joy anymore. He appeared in an interview with Piers Morgan Tonight, and inevitably, the main topic was his daughter.

Billy Ray was asked about his thoughts now that his daughter has "turned to twerking" and he sidetracks a bit: "It gets even stranger when that little girl becomes a young lady,  the shock factor is tremendously higher than it used to be."

He didn't want to focus on the controversial aspect, and tries to see it from an artist's standpoint. Miley has grown up, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. She can't be "Hannah Montana" anymore: "I'm her daddy. I come for that school of as a singer-songwriter, as a musician, that it starts with a song. And it's that magic moment when a song finds the right artist, the right singer, and it becomes a synchronicity of that moment in time." 

The understanding father continues: "Miley harnessed into something very special. She's just Miley. She's an artist, she's real. I think that's what's happened over the years, Miley has been reinventing her sound. She's evolving as an artist herself. I think that it's all of what everyone is calling controversy now. That's still my Miley."

While most people find it hard to understand Miley, his father has been there. He has probably made the same compromises himself. In the context of Miley's VMA performance: "Miley again, you know, I think she could've went out and sang the song in a flannel shirt and a pair of jeans, and it would have still been just as strong. Would we have been here talking about it? No way."

Billy Ray Cyrus is right. Artists have to do something to redefine themselves as artists, even if means baring some skin. Didn't Dakota Johnson's actor parents celebrate when she got the role in "50 Shades of Grey?" Billy Ray Cyrus thinks Miley is simply playing a role.