Miley Cyrus may have been known for her distinctive raspy voice, but not everyone is aware that there’s a medical condition behind her unique vocal tone.
In an interview with Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show, the “Flowers” hitmaker opened up about her rare health issue called Reinke’s edema, which makes her voice unique and raspy.
However, despite its distinctive outcome, it also comes with challenges that affect her career.
How Does Reinke’s Edema Affect Miley Cyrus?
For Cyrus, Reinke’s edema is both a gift and a curse, giving her voice its unique, raspy quality, but also limits her ability to tour as much as she would like.
The pop star shared that she has a “very large polyp,” an abnormal tissue growth, on her vocal cord.
“[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,” she explained.
Despite this, the 32-year-old openly embraces her condition, considering it a “part of my unique anatomy.”
However, she called that staying up late, drinking, smoking, and partying after every show when she was younger didn’t have anything to do with her diagnosis, but they didn’t help much either.
In fact, she feels overtired, her mom, Tish Cyrus, will tell her that she sounds like someone “talking through a radio.”
“It creates that, like, ultimate vocal fry, and so I do have this blessing of a condition that I live with,” she said. “My voice is super unique because of it.”
With that being said, Cyrus has no plans to go under the knife to “sever” the polyp on her vocal cord, fearing it could risk her chance of “not sounding like [herself].”
Is It Still Possible for Miley Cyrus to Go on Tour?
Though it’s still possible for Cyrus to go on tour, she explained that it had to be done “in a way that is sustainable” for her because she never lip-syncs.
Live performances are very taxing for her, so she’s opting for alternatives that won’t strain her vocal cords.
The Hannah Montana star added that it would not “mathematically make sense” to start touring if she doesn’t hold a certain number of concerts because she won’t have the money to pay for the crew and other expenses.
What is Reinke’s Edema?
Reinke’s edema is also known as polypoid corditis or smoker’s polyps. This benign, non-life-threatening condition accumulates fluid in the outer layer of the vocal folds, resulting in swelling.
The swelling affects vocal cord vibration that leads to a hoarse, low-pitched voice like what Cyrus has.
But though this condition is not serious, it can significantly impact quality of life, especially for professional singers.
Reinke’s edema is often associated with smoking, but it can also be caused by acid reflux, vocal overuse, or other irritants.
It can be treated with surgery, laser therapy, or injections, but each option carries risks, particularly for vocal artists.
However, Cyrus chooses to live with it instead of losing her distinctive tone.
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