Billy Ray Cyrus rejected Rock of Ages Broadway role

BILLY RAY CYRUS turned down the chance to make his Broadway debut in hit musical ROCK OF AGES because the character he was offered was too "predictable" a role for the singer to take on.

The Achy Breaky Heart hitmaker was eager to test his acting and singing skills on the New York stage but he wasn't going to settle for just any part - and he's glad he held out for a more challenging job because playing a musician wasn't for him.

Cyrus went on to sign up for a stint in the current Broadway production of Chicago as criminal lawyer Billy Flynn, and he couldn't be happier.

He tells People magazine, "I couldn't do something predictable. I was offered Rock of Ages and turned it down. Billy is this slick lawyer; he's the total opposite of me. I thought, 'That will be a challenge.' When I saw the entire production, it all turned me on! It was like, 'Theatre could be this?' As an actor, I thought, 'I want to learn some of that!'."

Cyrus began his seven-week stint in the hit show earlier this month (Nov12).