Billy Ray Cyrus is changing his name!

Billy Ray Cyrus has wanted to change his name for 27 years, and he is now doing it. 

The country singer is losing the "Billy Ray" from his name in favour of simply being called "Cyrus." 

His new name will become official on the singer's 56th birthday.

"After August 25th, I will be the artist formerly known as Billy Ray. I'm just going by my last name Cyrus," he told Rolling Stone Country. "I always went by Cyrus, and I begged Mercury Records to call me Cyrus in the beginning because that's what I was comfortable with. I'm going to the hospital where I was born in Bellefonte, Kentucky, and legally changing my name."

The move comes shortly after another big milestone in Cyrus's life: the 25th anniversary of his cult classic hit, "Achy Breaky Heart".

The song topped the charts here in NZ in 1992 - and was the biggest selling single of the year.