“Here’s a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares”: The Exaggerated Feud Between Billy Ray Cyrus and Travis Tritt

As of recent, the public has come to learn that the country music industry is not all about God, family, and kindness. Rather, it is arguably the most cutthroat and competitive genre in all of music. That being so, there have been many feuds over the years. Eric Church and Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, as well as Alan Jackson and George Jones, are just a few that come to mind. However, one of the most public and verbal feuds was between Travis Tritt and Billy Ray Cyrus.

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The verbal feud between the two stemmed from Billy Ray Cyrus’ No. 1 hit “Achy Breaky Heart.” Tritt and Cyrus’ call and response might have been bad publicity, however, it was surely entertaining for spectators. Entertaining in the sense that viewers got to see the two country stars be candid, clever, and even a bit brash. In other words, they did not score their prescribed persona; rather, they were just being human.

Travis Tritt’s Inflated Remarks

Travis Tritt is well known for his songs “It’s a Great Day to be Alive,” “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” and “Help Me Hold On.” All three are great songs, however, they are very much acquainted with the commercial Nashville sound of the time. That said, Tritt’s comments about Cyrus’ song seem, to some at least, a bit hypocritical in a sense.

When Cyrus’ song was released in 1992, Tritt did not hold back any punches on the matter. Tritt said Cyrus’ hit song was “frivolous” and “doesn’t really make much of a statement.” He also described the song as an “a— wiggling contest.” As true as those remarks might be, when it comes from Travis Tritt it doesn’t necessarily pack that much of a punch. However, if it were to come from someone a bit more rebellious and avant-garde, then that would be a different story.

Regardless of who said it or why they said it, Billy Ray Cyrus was having none of it. Months after Tritt’s remarks, Cyrus got on stage at the 1993 American Music Awards and stated, “As far as I’m concerned, to those people who don’t like ‘Achy Breaky Heart,’ here’s a quarter, call someone who cares.” Cyrus goes the extra mile to subtly reference Tritt, as his remark about the quarter is a direct reference to Tritt’s song, “Here’s a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares.”

In retrospect, Tritt acknowledged the rudeness of his remarks. He stated, “You just don’t say anything negative about anybody. Period.” That being so, it seems the two buried the hatchet as they performed on stage together in 2002 at the memorial concert for Waylon Jennings.

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