Written by the country songwriter and performer Don Von Tress, this was a remake of a 1991 song by the country act The Marcy Brothers, titled "Don't Tell My Heart." That original version had the lyrics: "Don't tell my heart, my achy, breakin' heart..."
This song best represents the country music craze in the early '90s. As the audience for "Old Country" artists like Willie Nelson and George Strait waned, younger listeners turned to "New Country," which had slick production and pop melodies. "Achy Breaky Heart" led the charge, crossing over to Top 40 radio and becoming a huge hit. Purists hated it and blamed Cyrus for desecrating country music, but it led the way for artists like Shania Twain and Faith Hill, who had massive pop success with country songs.
Born and raised in Flatwoods, Kentucky, Cyrus first worked as a car salesman there, and dreamed of being a professional baseball player. He made his singing debut in father's gospel group.
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