Joe. Billy Ray sang this song to Cyrus, the night before his death. In honor of Cyrus, his granddaughter, Miley chose to act as "Ronnie" for her character in the 2010 film The Last Song. She also changed her middle name from "Hope" to "Ray" in Cyrus' honor. A chapter of her autobiography Miles to Go is also dedicated to Cyrus. References External links Ron Cyrus Cancer Research Center 1935 births 2006 deaths AFL–CIO people Deaths from lung cancer in Kentucky Democratic Party members of the Kentucky House of Representatives People from Flatwoods, Kentucky Ron 20th-century American politicians