Miley Cyrus candidly discusses living with Reinke’s edema—a vocal cord condition that gives her voice its distinctive rasp but also complicates her ability to tour extensively.

Miley Cyrus has revealed in a recent interview that she lives with a condition known as Reinke’s edema, which contributes to her distinctive raspy voice but also presents significant challenges when performing live.

Speaking on Apple Music’s “The Zane Lowe Show,” the 32-year-old singer explained that she has a “very large polyp” on one of her vocal cords—an abnormal growth that impacts her voice’s tone and texture. “It’s a part of my unique anatomy,” Cyrus shared, adding, “[It’s] given me a lot of the tone and texture that has made me who I am, but it’s extremely difficult to perform with because it’s like running a marathon with ankle weights on.”

Reflecting on her past, Cyrus acknowledged that her lifestyle at age 21—late nights, drinking, smoking, and partying—did not help her vocal condition, though she clarified it did not cause it. “My voice always sounded like this,” she asserted.

At times when she is overtired, her mother points out that Miley sounds as if she is “talking through a radio,” a description that highlights the vocal fry created by her condition. Despite the challenges, Miley considers it a “blessing” in disguise because it makes her voice unmistakably unique.

Cyrus also disclosed she is reluctant to undergo surgery to remove the polyp due to fears of losing the distinct sound she has cultivated over her career. “I don’t want to risk not sounding like myself,” she said.

In the meantime, she has chosen to take alternative measures to protect her vocal cords, including limiting the frequency of live shows. Miley emphasized that a global tour would need to be done “in a way that is sustainable” since she does not lip-sync and finds live performances “taxing.” She also explained that without a minimum number of concerts, a tour would be financially impractical because of the costs involved in supporting her crew and production.

Beyond her vocal health, Miley has opened up about other recent health struggles. During her New Year’s Eve performance, she endured a “pretty traumatic experience” due to an ovarian cyst rupture. Additionally, she revealed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that her leg started “disintegrating” around the kneecap after an intense shoot for one of her music videos. By November, she was briefly admitted to the ICU.

Biography and Story Involved:

Miley Cyrus, born November 23, 1992, is a Grammy-winning American singer, songwriter, and actress renowned for her powerful voice and versatile musical style. Rising to fame as a Disney Channel star, she evolved into a global pop icon. The signature rasp in her voice is partly due to Reinke’s edema, a vocal cord condition she has openly discussed. Miley continues to balance her health challenges with her artistic career, adapting her touring and performance schedule to preserve her unique sound. Her transparency about her health struggles adds depth to her public persona and resonates with fans worldwide.