Country singers say the darndest things. Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” was his signature hit, but Billy Ray didn’t see it that way. In fact, he seemed to take more pride in a song he wrote about the Vietnam War that wasn’t even a single.
Billy Ray Cyrus said ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ didn’t touch people like another 1 of his songs did
For over 25 years, “Achy Breaky Heart” was the most famous Billy Ray song bar none. It had its fans, it had its detractors, and it inspired a “Weird Al” Yankovic spoof called “Achy Breaky Song” that showed up on the same album as his Jurassic Park parody. By most metrics, “Achy Breaky Heart” would qualify as a hit.
During a 2009 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Cyrus disputed that. “I had three No. 1 [country] records and one of the most significant patriotic songs of all time, the title track of that album, ‘Some Gave All,’” he said. “It’s a song I wrote about a Vietnam veteran, but to this day, and unfortunately for this war, it’s still one of the most played songs around the world. And it’s significant in this time.
“It’s far outlived ‘Achy Breaky,’” he added. “Your definition of a big hit might not be my definition. A hit is something that touches people around the world, something that makes a difference.” Notably, “Some Gave All” was not even a single.
Billy Ray Cyrus always wanted to be original
In the same interview, the “Old Town Road” star played up his originality. “What I’ve always really prided myself on, is being an original,” he said. “Matter of fact, that letter that I referenced a while ago about Johnny Cash, one of the lines he wrote in there was ‘Be an original.’
“And that’s what I’ve always tried to do,” he continued. “As long as I love music and have that passion for being real, I’m going to keep on doing it.”
The unusual legacy of ‘Achy Breaky Heart’
Regardless of Cyrus’ feelings about “Achy Breaky Heart,” the song was a success on the pop charts. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his only top 10 single until he appeared on a hit remix of Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road.” “Achy Breaky Heart” lasted on the chart for 25 weeks.
“Achy Breaky Heart” appeared on the album Some Gave All. The record was bigger than its biggest song. Some Gave All topped the Billboard 200 for 17 weeks, lasting on the chart for 97 weeks in total. The album’s other minor singles, “Could’ve Been Me” and “She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore,” reached No. 70 and No. 72, respectively. Those songs did alright on the pop charts for country songs but they had nothing on “Achy Breaky Heart.”
“Achy Breaky Heart” went on to become one of those 1990s novelty songs, like Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” or Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5,” that people either seem to love or hate. When Billy Ray appeared on Miley Cyrus’ show Hannah Montana, “Achy Breaky Heart” became a regular punchline. The show introduced more young people to the song than anything else.
“Achy Breaky Heart” wasn’t a hit in Billy Ray’s eyes — but it was to everyone else.
