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Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth Back On, but Does Billy Ray Approve?

Papa Cyrus talks about his daughter's romance. Plus, the latest on the Hannah Montana prequel and his new TLC series

By Marc Malkin Jun 22, 2011 12:30 AMTags
Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Billy Ray CyrusLester Cohen/WireImage.com; Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

We're so lovin' that Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are back together.

The singer and the Aussie hunkster were most recently spotted this weekend shopping in Sydney. He reportedly took a break from filming The Hunger Games in the U.S. to visit her while she's on tour Down Under.  

While this relationship has seen its on days and off days, Miley's dad, Billy Ray, is pretty clear on how he feels about Mr. Hemsworth. Read on to find out what Papa Cyrus just told me…

"He's a great guy," Billy Ray said when he stopped by E! today to promote his new album, I'm American (out June 28). "He's solid. He's got great character."

No surprise, Billy Ray is all for Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games. "Have you read that script?" he asked. "The script is killer, and Liam is going to knock it out of the park. He's a tremendous talent.

"And I have to tell you, on or off the record, he's just a good guy," he added. "He's just a really good guy. I really like him a lot."

Can't ask for better parental approval than that, can ya?

Billy Ray also revealed he wouldn't mind some more Hannah Montana in his life. "You know, there's wonderful buzz right now for a prequel to Hannah Montana," he smiled. "I know Miley couldn't step back and be that little girl, but I could get my mullet back real quick."

Sounds like the perfect project for the Billy Ray and Tish's youngest daughter, 11-year-old Noah Lindsey. Just sayin'.

It's not like the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer doesn't have plenty on his plate already. In addition to the new Stars & Stripes-infused album, he continues his decades-long mission to support the troops with Surprise Homecoming, a TLC series he hosts about American troops reuniting with their families that premieres on July 11.

"I do think I have accepted a bit of responsibility for our troops," said Cyrus, whose recording career was launched in 1992 with "Some Gave All," a hit song in honor of Vietnam vets. "I feel like I can be a voice. I can be a voice for our veterans and I'll carry that torch to the best of my ability. [Surprise Homecoming] helps me take a step closer to fulfilling my purpose. Part of that purpose is saying thanks and making sure the troops get the recognition that they deserve."