Daddy, I wasn't drunk': Miley

Billy Ray Cyrus has reconciled with his wife - and his also mending his relationship with his famous daughter.

The country singer, 49, has been estranged from Miley Cyrus for a number of months during which time him publicly expressed concern about her wild antics.

The 18-year-old had apparently sided with her mother during her parents' five month separation and was said to be 'hurt' and 'angry' of his criticism of her behaviour in the press.

But the pair, who starred alongside each other in the hit Disney show Hannah Montanna, are back on good terms and he is now coming to her defence following reports she left Chateau Marmont intoxicated last week.

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Miley was pictured 'stumbling' out of the Hollywood hotspot at 3am last Saturday and seemed to be leaning on her friend and covering her eyes.

But the star - who was recently caught smoking a bong on video earlier this year - has assured her father she is not going off the rails.
Defence:The 18-year-old told her father Billy Ray that she was not drunk when leaving Chateau Marmont in Hollywood last week

'I was talking to Miley last night and she was talking about New York and then I noticed that she felt there was a sadness. She'd sent me a picture and I thought it looked like she'd been crying', Billy Ray told The View in an interview set to air in the US today.

'And I asked her and she said, "Well there's some stuff about a picture and they said I was drunk" and she said "Daddy, I wasn't. I had a meeting with Dr. Luke".

'And I happen to know that Dr. Luke is one of the greatest songwriters in the world right now, he wrote Party in the U.S.A. and Miley's working on a new album and that's very good for her creativity to be channelling that energy toward music', he added.

'So she says "I had a meeting with Dr. Luke and the staff and we were all there and I came out of this restaurant" and there were so many paparazzi that she said "I couldn't see Daddy" and "they were flashing".

'She said "I held my hand up to block the flashes out of my eyes because I couldn't see to take a step."'

'I went back and re-looked at the picture and I go "Baby I'm sorry it's just got to be tough." She said "It's embarrassing. It hurts my feelings" and she said, most importantly, "It was a lie. I wasn't drinking. I wasn't drunk. I was just trying to get to my car after a meeting."'

Of their reconciliation, he says: 'I feel like I got my Miley back. I feel like we're the daddy and daughter we were before Hannah Montana.'

Billy Ray told The View he has called of his divorce from Tish, whom he has been married to for 17 years, following their split in October.

'I want to put my family back together,' he said. 'Things are the best they've ever been.'

Miley was pictured out yesterday playing happy families with her mother and grandmother.