Cyrus says he's trying to mend family

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus, who canceled an appearance on "The View" this week, says he is working on mending his family.

Cyrus told GQ magazine "Hannah Montana," the TV sitcom he starred in for five seasons with his teen daughter, Miley, "destroyed my family."

Although the show helped revive the elder Cyrus' career and made his daughter a popular singer and actress, Billy Ray told GQ for its March issue he wishes he and Miley had never gotten involved with "Hannah Montana."

During the course of the show, Billy Ray and his wife Tish split up, and Miley, now 18, has been criticized for some time for her sexy image and hard-partying ways.

Billy Ray later backtracked on his comments to GQ, telling People.com they were "explosive, and unintentionally so."

"It is very important to me to work on mending my family right now," Cyrus said.

"My family is the most important thing I have, and we are working together to make sure our future is stronger and healthier," he added. "It is all a learning process, and we thank everyone for their support and respect of our privacy as we sort through very important family issues."

Billy Ray and Tish have three children together. Billy Ray also has one other child from a previous relationship. He adopted Tish's two children from her previous marriage, as well.