Billy Ray Cyrus is trying to do some serious damage control after he made some pretty controversial statements to GQ magazine claiming fame “destroyed my family” and that he was “scared” for his 18 year old daughter, country star Miley Cyrus.

Trying to remove the gigantic foot he’s placed in his mouth, the country star tells PEOPLE that now he’s looking to repair the clearly strained relationship with his family.

“It is very important to me to work on mending my family right now,” Cyrus, 49, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement.
Calling his recent comments “explosive, and unintentionally so,” Cyrus says, “My family is the most important thing I have, and we are working together to make sure our future is stronger and healthier.”

Looks like Miley and that big fat bank of hers got Billy Boy to hush up and change his tune REAL QUICK!