Asked how, as a dad, how he feels watching his daughter twerk and go nude in music videos, the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer initially deflected, but then commended Miley for her choices.

“For me to think how hard she’s worked to get to his point, and what a risk — just the fact that she went and cut her hair off. That was huge,” said Billy Ray.

He continued, “She could’ve stayed Hannah Montana forever and made a great living doing that, but she’s more of an artist than that, and she wanted to make a living and evolve.”

Noting that Miley is “very smart” and had her latest controversial career moves all “thought out in advance,” Billy Ray pointed out that “the shock factor is tremendously higher than it used to be.”

“She’s really very focused and loves what she’s doing. And that’s the main thing for me as a dad, seeing my little girl doing what she loves and making the music that she loves to make and hanging out with some incredibly talented producers, singer-songwriters, musicians,” he told Morgan.