Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus' dad has leapt to her defence over criticism about the racy video for her single, Wrecking Ball.

Miley Cryus' dad has defended the singer's nudity in the video for her new single, Wrecking Ball.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Billy Ray Cyrus brushed aside the fresh controversy surrounding the Terry Richardson-directed promo and insisted that the headlines should be about Miley's "God-given talent".

"I'm a song man. A musician singer-songwriter who loves all styles of music," he said.

"But again, I come from the old school where it starts with an artist and a song, colliding, if you will, in a moment where the song, the singer, the producer, the band and the listener become one."

The country legend added: "It wouldn't have mattered if Miley wore jeans and a flannel shirt, a tux, or a nun's habit - The song's a smash and her performance vocally on the tune reflects her roots and sheer God-given talent."

After his daughter provoked controversy with her raunchy stage performance with Robin Thicke at the MTV VMAs, he said: "She's still my little girl and I'm still her dad, regardless of how this circus we call showbusiness plays out. I love her unconditionally and that will never change."

She has also defended the Wrecking Ball video, which has broken records on Vevo, garnering 46.5 million views in just three days.

"I think the video is much more. If people get past the point that I'm naked and you actually look at me," the We Can't stop hitmaker told New York's z100.

"If you look in my eyes I look more sad than my voice sounds on the record," she said. "It was a lot harder to do the video than it was to even record the song. It was much more of an emotional experience."