The Cyrus family has seen its share of ups and downs, but Trace Cyrus assures fans that his bond with sister Miley Cyrus remains strong, even across the miles.

Trace and Miley are two of six siblings in the Cyrus family. Their mother, Tish Cyrus, had Brandi and Trace before marrying country music icon Billy Ray Cyrus in 1993. Following their marriage, Billy Ray adopted Tish’s eldest children.

On Friday, January 24, Trace Cyrus opened up about his connection with Miley Cyrus during an Instagram Story Q&A.

When asked about the last time he saw his younger sister, Trace revealed, “It’s been a few months.” He added that he had plans to visit Miley in Los Angeles earlier in January, but those plans were derailed by the devastating wildfires that swept through the area.

“[I] was going to go to LA this month, but then the fires started,” Trace explained, punctuating his response with a crying emoji to convey the heartbreak caused by the fires, which destroyed thousands of homes and structures.

Despite the delayed meeting, Trace shared that he plans to visit his family next month in celebration of his upcoming birthday. While Trace appears to reside in Nashville, Miley is based in California, making family visits more logistically challenging.

However, Trace reassured fans that Miley is doing exceptionally well. “She’s thriving. Truly doing better than she’s ever been,” he revealed, adding that his sister is “constantly working” on new projects.

Teasing what’s ahead for the “Flowers” singer, Trace hinted at “big things otw (on the way).”

During the performance, issues with his guitar and microphone interrupted the flow, ultimately prompting the country star to deliver the iconic 1992 hit a cappella. At one point, Billy Ray removed the microphone from its stand and opted to speak the lyrics instead of singing, demonstrating his commitment to entertaining the audience despite the challenges.

“Check? Is anybody awake?” Billy Ray joked to the crowd as he navigated the disruptions. Maintaining his sense of humor, he added, “Y’all want me to sing more or you want me to just get the hell off the stage?”

Videos of his performance have since gone viral.

On January 22, Trace shared a heartfelt open letter to his father on Instagram, reflecting on their complicated relationship and expressing concern for Billy Ray’s health and happiness.

“Since my earliest memories, I was obsessed with you,” Trace wrote. “The day you adopted me was the happiest day of my life. Sadly, the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognize now.”

Alongside a throwback photo of the two performing together on stage, Trace expressed his concern for his father’s well-being, suggesting that Billy Ray has been struggling in recent years.

“It seems this world has beaten you down, and it’s become obvious to everyone but you,” Trace continued. “You may be upset with me for posting this, but I really could care less at this point.”

“Noah desperately has wanted you to be a part of her life, and you haven’t even been there for her. That’s your baby girl. She deserves better. Somehow, just like me, she still idolizes you, though,” Trace wrote.

He ended his emotional letter with a plea for his father to take steps toward healing. “We are all hanging on to memories of the man we once knew and hoping for the day he returns,” he added. “You’re not healthy, Dad, and everyone is noticing it.”

Billy Ray also shares son Christopher Cody Cyrus with ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey and son Braison Cyrus with Tish.