Miley Cyrus reveals rare vocal cord condition and why she refuses surgery despite voice strain

Miley Cyrus has finally addressed something fans have long wondered about: the raspy, smoky voice that’s become her trademark. In a recent interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the singer revealed that her voice is shaped by a condition called Reinke’s oedema, a disorder that causes swelling in the vocal cords and can lead to hoarseness and vocal strain.

Cyrus, now 32, explained that she’s had this condition for years, even before her lifestyle choices could have made it worse. “Yeah, drinking, smoking, and partying didn’t help,” she admitted. “But that wasn’t the cause. My voice has always sounded like this. It’s just how my body is built.”

Miley Cyrus says performing with her vocal condition feels like running a marathon with weightsGetty Images

The singer said she has a large polyp on her vocal cords that contributes to her distinctive tone. “It’s a big part of who I am,” she said. “But performing with it is hard. It’s like running a marathon with weights on your ankles.” Talking can be tough, too. Cyrus said her mother can immediately tell when her voice is worn out just from a phone call.

Despite the discomfort, Cyrus is not considering surgery. The reason? She’s afraid it might change her voice permanently. “I’m not willing to take that chance,” she said. “Waking up and not sounding like myself? That’s a real risk I’m not okay with.”

Reinke’s oedema is uncommon and mostly affects women who smoke or use their voice a lot over the years. While there are treatment options like surgery or laser therapy, Cyrus has chosen to manage it without medical intervention, a decision rooted in protecting her identity as an artist.

Miley Cyrus’s raw honesty gives fans new insight into why she rarely toursGetty Images

Touring, however, remains complicated. Fans have often asked why she doesn’t tour more, and now they have their answer. Singing live with her condition is exhausting, and since she refuses to lip-sync, she needs to be extra cautious. “I plan tours all the time,” she said, “but they have to be doable for me physically, emotionally, financially. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense.”

Cyrus also touched on how performing constantly, under pressure, impacts her personally. “When every interaction becomes about performance and being watched, it chips away at your humanity. And without that connection, I can’t write songs—and songwriting is my priority.”

Miley Cyrus admits she won’t risk surgery out of fear it could change her voice foreverGetty Images

Her upcoming visual album Something Beautiful drops on 30 May, and it sounds like it might be the closest fans get to a full tour for now.