Track available for download via Amazon and iTunes on June 3
Nashville, Tenn. – The official music video for Billy Ray Cyrus’“Hey Elvis” will exclusively world premiere on “CMT Hot 20 Countdown” this Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5. Following its debut, the video will be available on CMT Music, CMT.com and CMT Mobile. A preview of the video is now available here.
“Hey Elvis” features Cyrus in what he describes as an, “’Elvis’ Where Art Thou”theme.
Cyrus fell in love with the track, written by Bryan Adams and Gretchen Peters, nearly twenty years ago. This gritty rock rendition combines the unique forces of Cyrus, Adams, and the legendary “The Voice Of Rock,” Glenn Hughes. Hughes, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Deep Purple on April 8th, provided a fresh influence on the song’s latest version.
In a recent statement about collaborating with Hughes, Cyrus stated, “He not only solidifies a magic pocket in the groove with his bass, but also injects the voice of rock onto the backend of the song.”
Cyrus is quick to highlight the importance behind his admiration for Elvis’ musical footprint. In 1992, the iconic Johnny Cash sent a letter to Cyrus recognizing the career parallel between Elvis and Cyrus in which he wrote: “Thirty-six years ago I was working with Elvis and saw him take the same kind of flak you’re taking now. Congratulations on the way you’re handling it all. In your case, as in Elvis’, the good outweighs the bad. Let ’em have it. I’m in your corner.”
To this day, still inspired by Cash’s words, Cyrus prepares to release new material this fall in which “Hey Elvis” will be included.
The tribute to Elvis continues with the launch of “Still The King,” CMT’s new scripted comedy starring Cyrus, debuting Sunday, June 12 at 9pm, ET/PT. Cyrus stars as “Burnin’” Vernon Brown, a one-hit-wonder country artist who emerges decades later as an Elvis impersonator. After a drunken accident into a church sign, Brown is sentenced to perform community service for the church as part of his parole. He pretends to be the congregation’s new minister in attempt to reconnect with a former one-night-stand (Joey Lauren Adams), when he learns he has a 15-year-old daughter (Madison Iseman) he’s never met.
“Hey Elvis” is available for download via digital outlets Amazon and iTunes onFriday, June 3rd.
For more information on “Still The King” visit CMT and follow “Still the King” on Facebook.
For more information on Billy Ray Cyrus visit his official website at www.BillyRayCyrus.com and follow him on and Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.