By: Andrew Vaughan
 
When a young singer, named Billy Ray Cyrus, scored four number one hits from his first album back in 1992, the one that stood out most was an infectious pop-driven song entitled “Achy Breaky Heart.” It is complete with a killer hook and its own dance that stole all the headlines.
 
But also on that record was a deeply personal, brooding song about war. It was named “Some Gave All” and remains to be Cyrus’ finest musical moment.

 
Cyrus has been a household name ever since—and just as he slipped from the music limelight and took up acting, his daughter Miley burst into the world's TV screens and the Hannah Montana phenomenon took her and her father to the very top of the celebrity pile.

This year hasn’t been easy for Billy Ray Cyrus. Personal issues with his daughter and wife have made the road tricky and bumpy, a factor perhaps in Cyrus devoting heart and soul to one of his long time passions, the American military and their families.
 
His new album, I'm American, kicks off with a stunning re-do of “Some Gave All” (alongside with Jamey Johnson, Darryl Worley and Craig Morgan) and several other patriotic tracks.
 

 
Andrew: So Billy, presumably "Some Gave All" is still an important song for you?
 
Cyrus: I wrote a song back in 1989, about a Vietnam veteran. Twenty years after that we are in the middle of two wars, Iraq and Afghanistan, and I'm playing for the troops. A performance at Kabul was interrupted by some bomb blasting and the minute I came off stage I knew I’d re-record it and make a whole album as a tribute to our brave men and women in uniform.
 
Andrew: You’re also on TLC on Mondays on Surprise Homecomings, again featuring military families. How did that come about?
 
Cyrus: I did the album months before the TV show and then got a call to host that show—seemed like it made sense with my long-standing relationship with the military.
Surprise Homecoming is an incredible show to be part of. To see the sacrifice of the kids, and the moms and dad support of the soldiers at these homecomings has been really amazing. It’s extremely humbling—that’s the definition of “Some Gave All.”
 
Andrew: Has it helped put your own personal struggles this year in context?
 
Cyrus: Well, it sure does put things in perspective, and it brings to the forefront of your mind that our troops represent our freedom.
 
Andrew: “Some Gave All” is patriotic without being overtly jingoistic.
 
Cyrus: Well thanks, what's interesting about "Some Gave All" and doing the homecoming show is that homecoming is about reuniting. But there are two sides of the coin. Two different types of homecoming: some with smiles and tears of joy; and then there are homecomings with just tears for those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
 
Every time I make these shows, I know there are others who are not so fortunate. It’s the ultimate story of “Some Gave All.” It’s the realism of war, which is what the song was all about.
 
Andrew: Do record sales on this album matter at all?
 
Cyrus: I’ve had a great career and I’ve been very fortunate. And this album
was a passion project to say thanks to our men and women in uniform and their families. And I’ll never ever forget that some gave all.

Andrew Vaughan is a well-known and respected Nashville based writer. As a music critic his work has appeared in Billboard, Music Week, Mojo, "Q", the London Times, the Guardian, and Folk Roots. He was the founding director of Country Music International magazine and a regular guest on BBC Radio, BBC TV, and VH1.