Billy Ray 'not present' at Miley shoot

Billy Ray Cyrus has revealed that he was not present at daughter Miley's controversial Vanity Fair photoshoot.

The 15-year-old caused outcry in the US in April when she posed for photographer Annie Leibovitz wrapped in only a sheet.

Billy Ray, Miley's co-star in Disney series Hannah Montana, told the Today Show: "I wasn't there at the time. Her publicist was there, and everyone seemed in control.

"I didn't know they [were] gonna strip her down and wrap her with a blanket. So I was surprised when I saw it, you know, but...stuff happens. That's life. Things happen and sometimes things get a little out of control and you just gotta deal with life."

Although he went on to praise Leibovitz, Cyrus said he wished in retrospect that he had been around to supervise the shoot.

> Media blasted for Cyrus treatment