Cyrus sings Smith's 'Flying By'

Billy Ray Cyrus has released a new album entitled "Home at Last." This in itself might not be of that much interest to those who aren't country music fans, but there is something on that album that has a distinct tie to Early County. The album includes a song titled "Flying By," written by local singer/songwriter turned Nashville girl, Joanna Smith.

"I am so honored to have my first song published on an album of this nature," says Smith, who was up early on the release day to purchase her own copy of the cd. "I couldn't really believe it was happening until I had it in my hands."

The song was a collaboration of Smith, Jeffery Steele and Tom Hambridge. It speaks to the quick speed of this "short, short life;" the transition from tricycles to braces, bad attitudes to grandkids, and how "it seems so slow, but it's flying by."

The new album from Cyrus features original and cover songs and is centered around the growing up of his daughter, Miley, known to most children as the star of "Hannah Montana."

"Flying By" is track number four on the album which was released July 25. The song also features a special dedication to one of the co-writers' (Jeffery Steele) son who was killed in a four-wheeler accident less than a year from when the three wrote the song.

The Cyrus album isn't the only project that Smith has been involved with during the past year. Her version of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is featured on the upcoming "Song of America" project album produced by Janet Reno.

The album chronicles America's history through songs from each era since the 1400s. It features various artists from across all genres such as John Mellencamp, Suzy Bogguss, Blind Boys of Alabama, Andrew Bird, Bettye LaVette and many others. The album is a three CD set that is geared for use in schools as a tool for teaching American history through music.

Smith continues to write songs under contract with Big Borossa Music Publishing in Nashville as well as pursue an artist career while singing her songs in various venues around Nashville.

You can find Smith and her music on the web at www.myspace.com/joannasmithmusic. You can also learn about the Song of America project by visiting www.myspace.com/songofamerica or hear an interview with Janet Reno and Smith's recording at www.npr.org/templates/stor y/story.php?sto- ryid=11783231.

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