Cyrus father 'surprised' at daughter's pictures

Billy Ray Cyrus was not around when Annie Leibovitz photographed his 15-year-old teen star daughter Miley wrapped in a sheet with her back exposed for Vanity Fair magazine, he said today.

The 46-year-old country star said on NBC's 'Today' show in the US: "I wasn't there at the time. (Miley's) publicist was there, and everyone seemed in control.

"I didn't know they (were) gonna strip her down and wrap her with a blanket.

"So I was surprised when I saw it, you know, but … stuff happens. That's life. Things happen and sometimes things get a little out of control and you just gotta deal with life.

"Again, it's peaks and valleys and ups and downs."

Cyrus, who co-stars with Miley in Disney Channel's 'Hannah Montana', said Leibovitz was a "good person and a great photographer" but looking back, he would have stayed to chaperone the photo shoot.

Another photo in the Vanity Fair spread that caused a stir was the image of Miley in a black tank top that revealed her midriff as Cyrus held her in his arms.

When asked if that photo was a mistake, Cyrus said: "It's not a mistake to me. If it is to someone else, I'm sorry if I offended somebody, but no, that's just a daddy that loves his daughter a whole lot."

Cyrus said he and Miley "got caught up in this adventure that we've gone through with this dream, and what we do for a living. ... We both love acting, we love making music and we love each other.

"I'm her dad and she's my daughter, so if a daddy hasn't hugged his daughter recently, I'd recommend he does."