Billy Ray Cyrus Dismisses Provocative Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Photos

Dad Says "thats Life!"

Billy Ray Cyrus, costar along with daughter Miley Cyrus on Hannah Montana, stopped by The Today Show to talk about the scandal involving a topless photo of Miley that appeared in Vanity Fair.

Ray claims that he wasn't around for the photo shoot which involved 15-year-old Miley being wrapped in a blanket, baring her back in a seductive tone. "I wasn't there at the time," the 46-year-old country star said. "I was surprised when I saw it, you know, but...stuff happens. Thats life. Things happen and sometimes things get a little out of control and you just gotta deal with life, " he said. "Again, it's peaks and valleys and ups and downs." In retrospect, Ray claims that had he known he would have stayed to chaperone the photo shoot more closely.

When asked to comment on another photo recently under the microscope of himself holding Miley while she wears a tank-top that bears her midriff he said "That's just a daddy who loves his daughter a whole lot. If a daddy hasn't hugged his daughter recently, I recommend he does."

Miley has recently come under much scrutiny for "inappropriate" photos appearing on the net leaked from her My Space page which show the young Disney star in provocative poses and little clothes which leads many parents to question her ability to be a strong role model for their pre-teen daughters.