Miley Cyrus has been a fixture in the entertainment world for more than a decade, evolving from a Disney Channel teen star into a global music icon with a career that has spanned multiple genres and styles. Known for her bold reinventions and distinctive voice, Miley has captivated millions with both her talent and her candidness.
Yet, behind the scenes, she has faced a personal challenge that few fans have been aware of—one that has affected her ability to perform and shaped the course of her career.
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While the world knows Miley for her dynamic performances and chart-topping hits, the path hasn’t always been smooth. The singer recently sat down for a revealing interview, where she discussed a rare medical condition that has quietly influenced her singing and touring decisions for years.
This condition is not just a minor inconvenience; it’s a significant hurdle that impacts her voice and stamina in ways that are both physical and emotional.
For those familiar with Miley’s vocal power and presence on stage, learning about this hidden struggle adds a new layer to appreciating her artistry. It also explains why fans haven’t seen her on tour in over a decade, despite continuing to release music and perform in other settings.
The medical condition Miley revealed is called Reinke’s edema. This disorder causes fluid buildup in the outer layer of the vocal cords, resulting in swelling that changes the voice’s tone, often making it deeper and hoarser.
According to medical sources like the Cleveland Clinic, Reinke’s edema is rare, affecting less than one percent of people, and is typically linked to factors such as smoking, chronic acid reflux, or frequent vocal strain.
Miley described the impact of this condition in detail during an interview on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show, offering an unfiltered look at how it affects her day-to-day life and performances:
“This is what I look like. So, I have this very large polyp on my vocal cord, which is giving me a lot of the tone and the texture that has made me who I am, but itʼs extremely difficult to perform with, because itʼs like running a marathon with ankle weights on.
When Iʼm talking, sometimes at the end of the day, Iʼll call my mom, and sheʼll go, ‘Oh, you sound like youʼre talking through a radio.̓ And thatʼs how you know Iʼm really tired, because it creates that ultimate vocal fry.”
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Miley revealed that she has been living with this condition for years. While she acknowledges that her past lifestyle choices, such as drinking and smoking in her youth, may have worsened the condition, she stresses that those habits were not the root cause.
In terms of treatment, there are surgical options like microlaryngoscopy, where surgeons use specialized tools to remove swollen tissue, or laser therapy, which shrinks or removes the swelling.
However, Miley has expressed hesitation about undergoing surgery, citing the risks involved and the fear that she might wake up sounding different from the voice fans know and love.
This fear has prevented her from taking the step toward surgery, even though she has a deep desire to return to touring. Miley shared that she only performs live and that the physical toll of singing with Reinke’s edema makes touring unrealistic at this time.
Her openness about this condition is a reminder that even the biggest stars face significant health challenges, especially those tied so closely to their craft. It humanizes Miley beyond her public persona and highlights the realities many performers endure behind the scenes.
For longtime fans of Hannah Montana and Miley’s music career, this revelation invites a deeper appreciation for her resilience and talent despite such hurdles. It also shines a light on vocal health—something not often discussed openly in the entertainment industry.
What are your favorite Miley Cyrus songs or Hannah Montana moments? Share your thoughts and memories with us in the comments!
