Billy Ray Cyrus’ ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ Was Originally by Another Artist

Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart" was a cover. Here's what the song's writer thought when Cyrus redid his song.

The world of country music is friendlier to covers than other genres. For example, Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” was a cover. Here’s what the song’s writer thought when Cyrus redid his song.

Billy Ray Cyrus’ ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ once had a different title

Cyrus had nothing to do with the writing or production of “Achy Breaky Heart.” The tune was penned by Don Von Tress and produced by Joe Scaife and Jim Cotton. The Marcy Brothers originally recorded it under the title “Don’t Tell My Heart” for their self-titled record. During a 2019 interview with The Tennessean, Von Tress discussed the writing of “Achy Breaky Heart.”

“It was 27 or 28 years ago,” he recalled. “My buddy, Russ Zavitson, who was based in Muscle Shoals, came up and was running Harold Shedd’s publishing company. I’d been that guy that was wanting to hear a song of mine on the radio. I just kept plugging away. I brought a piece of that song up to Russ and played it for him and he said, “Man, you have to finish this. And by the way, don’t get a co-writer.”

How ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ took over the world

Von Tress reacted to The Marcy Brothers’ version of his song. “You know, they did a good job, but the record didn’t really catch on,” he recalled. “It just didn’t get the magic. Meanwhile, Jim Cotton and Joe Scaife took it up to Kentucky, I believe, or West Virginia somewhere, and played it for Billy Ray Cyrus. This kid, who was already a regional star. Most people don’t know that. Billy heard the record and he said, ‘That’s me.'”

Von Tress told a reporter that “Achy Breaky Heart” was a massive success. “Of course, back in those days, like you said, we had print, radio, TV and movies, basically,” he said. “It dominated all of those, and it seemed like it wouldn’t stop.” Notably, “Achy Breaky Heart” became a running punchline on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, which co-starred Cyrus and his daughter, Miley Cyrus.

Von Tress told a reporter that “Achy Breaky Heart” was a massive success. “Of course, back in those days, like you said, we had print, radio, TV and movies, basically,” he said. “It dominated all of those, and it seemed like it wouldn’t stop.” Notably, “Achy Breaky Heart” became a running punchline on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, which co-starred Cyrus and his daughter, Miley Cyrus.

The song became Billy Ray Cyrus’ only crossover hit for a long time

“Achy Breaky Heart” became Cyrus’ first crossover hit. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 25 weeks. The track would be Cyrus’ only top 10 single until he put out a remix of “Old Town Road” with Lil Nas X. While Cyrus has had a long career in country music, “Achy Breaky Heart” and “Old Town Road” are the two songs he put out that everyone knows.

“Achy Breaky Heart” appeared on the album Some Gave All. That record climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for 17 weeks, staying on the chart for 97 weeks altogether. Cyrus would find success in several different mediums, including Disney Channel sitcoms and rap music, but he would never have another No. 1 album again. If he was going to have another No. 1 album, it probably would have come out right after “Old Town Road” became one of the biggest songs in the history of the American charts..

“Achy Breaky Heart” is Cyrus’ signature song even if it wasn’t his in the first place.