2007年VOA标准英语-Billy Ray Cyrus Focuses on Family on 'Home At L

By Mary Morningstar
Washington
21 August 2007

Billy Ray Cyrus is a Country music superstar and a successful actor, who now understands what's most important to him in life - his home and family. As VOA's Mary Morningstar tells us, family values are the common thread throughout Billy Ray's new album, "Home At Last."

Billy Ray Cyrus

A conversation between Billy Ray Cyrus and his father, who died of cancer last year, was the inspiration¹ for his new album, Home At Last.  His father told him, "Son, enjoy life. Appreciate every second you have with your family. Live, love and laugh often and don't ever take it for granted. Be thankful and just remember home is where your heart is, a place inside you never really leave."

Billy Ray grew up singing in his father's gospel quartet. He began performing professionally at the age of 20. In 1992, Billy Ray's debut² single, "Achy Breaky Heart," climbed to the top of the Country chart and also reached the Top 5 on the pop chart. Success on Country radio continued throughout the 1990s with such hits as "Could've Been Me," "Heart Of A Woman" and "Busy Man."

Then, in 2001, Billy Ray was cast to star in the cable television series Doc.  The career change turned out to be a mixed blessing³. He says he was thankful for the experience, but filming in Toronto kept him separated from his wife and five children for long periods of time. Billy Ray left Doc after four seasons, returning to his home in Tennessee and his career in music.

 

Home At Last

For the release of his latest album Home At Last, Billy Ray signed with Walt Disney Records. The album features some original songs, as well as several cover tunes⁴. The classics include "You've Got A Friend," "Put A Little Love in Your Heart," a unique version of "Over the Rainbow" and Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl."

Critics and Country music fans are giving high marks to Billy Ray's new album. The collection sold enough copies to enter the Country Albums chart at Number 3 and the Billboard⁵ 200 at Number 20.

Billy Ray wrote the first single from Home At Last for his daughter Miley, who stars in the popular series Hannah Montana.  His wife and children left for Los Angeles while he stayed behind in Tennessee to finalize⁶ the move.

"As I watched my family drive off, my heart was breaking," he said. "My daughter's life was about to change and it was time for daddy to let her go."

Once Billy Ray got to California, Disney also offered him a role in Hannah Montana.  He plays the father of his daughter's character.

1 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！

2 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

3 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

4 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

6 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。