New York Fashion Week brings the best in new clothing, but cast your eyes a little farther up and you may find that a once-reviled hairstyle is back in vogue.
“I was in Brooklyn just a few weeks ago, and I saw so many mullets I couldn’t believe it,” says Billy Ray Cyrus, whose own famous locks were part of his signature look during his early-’90s dominance in the music world. But Cyrus is nothing if not humble. “My mullet wasn’t the best. David Bowie rocked that mullet harder than anybody.”
These days, the mulletless Cyrus, now 55, is known more for his TV and movie work, including roles in “Sharknado 2: The Second One” and the CMT comedy series “Still the King.” But as new album “Thin Line” (his first in four years) arrives on Friday, he talks to The Post about his daughter Miley, hanging with Kurt Cobain, and Dolly Parton’s famous home cooking.
Your daughter Miley collaborates with you on the new album’s final track, “Angels Protect This Home,” which has an environmental theme. Has that always been one of her concerns?
Definitely. She’s always loved animals. I remember sitting with her as a 1-year-old girl, watching deer in the woods. We were there for about an hour, and she knew just to sit, be quiet, be one with nature and respect it. That’s exactly what she chants at the end of my album.
Did you feel the criticism aimed at her after “twerkgate” at the MTV VMAs in 2013 was unjust?
It was crazy. I was scratching my head thinking, “What’s all the flak about? This ain’t the Stone Age. What’s the big deal?” But if they ain’t saying something, you probably ain’t doin’ nothing! I think Miley knew that.
Looking back on your own success with the “Some Gave All” album and “Achy Breaky Heart,” did you have to suffer the same scrutiny?
The majority of people were thrilled for me, but not everyone. Johnny Cash wrote me a letter in 1992. It says, “32 years ago, I was working with Elvis and saw him taking the kind of flak you’re taking now.” It’s framed on my wall here in Nashville. But another new friend of mine at the time was George Jones. He actually picked me up in his car, and drove me to meet Johnny Cash so I could say thanks for the letter. That’s good enough for me!
Did you make any other interesting friends at the time?
One time, I was pulling into an arena somewhere, and all of a sudden, I hear a voice behind me say, “Congratulations, you pissed the whole world off.” I turn around and it’s Kurt Cobain. Nirvana had just played the same place, and were pulling out. I’m pretty sure he said that because my album “Some Gave All” had been No. 1 for 17 weeks. It just wouldn’t go anywhere — if it wasn’t my album, I probably would have been pissed off too! Not long after that, “Some Gave All” won the most-weeks-at-No. 1 award at the Billboard Awards. Kurt was one of the first people to say congratulations.
I spoke to Miley’s godmother, Dolly Parton, recently. She explained how her chicken and dumplings is a favorite dish of yours. What’s so good about it?
When Dolly makes it, it’s got a little more gravy. And that’s the secret. It’s all in the juice. Just like life. Who wants to eat a dry old piece of anything? Put some juice on it!