Cyrus says 'Hannah' ruined his family

NEW YORK, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Billy Ray Cyrus says "Hannah Montana," the TV sitcom he co-starred in with his daughter Miley, destroyed his 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 Cyrus and his wife Tish split up, and Miley, now 18, has been criticized for some time for her sexy image and hard-partying ways.

"I hate to say it, but yes, I do (regret it.) I'd take it back in a second," the New York Post quoted Billy Ray as saying to GQ about "Hannah Montana."

"Every time the train went off the track ... her people, or as they say in today's news, her handlers, every time they'd put (the blame on) me," he added. "I took it because I'm her daddy ... OK, nail me to the cross. I'm scared for her. She's got a lot of people around her that's putting her in a great deal of danger. I want to get her sheltered from the storm."

The Post said Miley's publicist didn't respond to its request for comment on her father's interview.