Michael Lohan to Billy Ray Cyrus: I Feel Your Pain

Michael Lohan has written an open letter to Billy Ray Cyrus, telling him that he understands what it's like to have a troubled famous daughter.

Billy Ray, of course, recently claimed that Disney Channel's hit series, Hannah Montana, destroyed his family. Despite the fact that Hannah Montana revived the one-hit wonder's career and catapulted his daughter, Miley, to superstardom, Billy Ray said that he would take it all back in a second.

Not only are Cyrus and his wife divorcing after 18 years, but Billy Ray is also worried about the direction that Miley is taking with her controversial life choices.

"I'm scared for her," he said. "She's got a lot of people around her that's putting her in a great deal of danger. I want to get her sheltered from the storm."

Michael Lohan, whose daughter Lindsay is dealing with legal woes, has reached out to the Achy Breaky Dad. Michael's open letter to Billy Ray is posted at Radar Online.

As Mr. Lohan wrote, "there is nothing like the love a man has for his family nor is there any length he will go to save or protect them." He talked about the frustrations of seeing your loved ones resist your efforts to protect them.

Lohan also talked about how outsiders may not understand how difficult it is to be in their shoes. As he writes, "Why is it that people don't put themselves in or shoes? And say to themselves, 'How would I feel if that was happening to me?'"

Michael wrote that although they couldn't change the world, he hoped that they could lead by example. He ended the letter by empathizing with Cyrus' predicament. As he writes, ""I feel your pain and frustration, and I also admire your strength, dedication and love, for your family in the name of God."

Given the controversial life choices of Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan, as well as Demi Lovato's recent visit to rehab, it's tempting to attribute it to a "Disney Curse." Yet it seems a bit unfair to blame the Disney franchise.

Many other Disney girls have grown up to be relatively well-adjusted and productive adults. Examples include Christina Aguilera, Raven Symone, Hilary Duff, as well as girls like Selena Gomez, Tiffany Thornton, Brenda Song, and Emily Osment.

And there's no reason that troubled teenagers can't overcome their struggles. Drew Barrymore had a famously troubled childhood and adolescence that included smoking, underage drinking, and drugs. However, she turned out to be a functional adult and was one of the few former child stars to make a successful transition into a mature career.