Miley’s opening up about her raspy vocals.
The Grammy Award-winning artist and daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus has had quite the career since debuting as the Disney character Hannah Montana. While the TV surrounding the young singer helped Cyrus start her career, her talent spoke for itself off the TV screen, leading her to become a powerhouse female pop vocalist.
Over the years, Miley Cyrus’ voice has gotten raspier than what he heard from the young woman on our TV screens, but it makes her who she is as an artist. While some thought that her voice changed as she matured, in a recent interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the “Flowers” singer revealed that she has a vocal condition called Reinke’s edema, describing it as “abuse of the vocal cords.” The Cleveland Clinic defines the condition as “a noncancerous vocal cord disorder common among people with a long-term smoking history. Hallmark symptoms are hoarseness and a noticeably deeper voice. Quitting smoking may improve mild cases, but most people need surgery.”
In the interview, Cyrus admits that partying has not helped her vocal condition, but her lifestyle was not the cause of her Reinke’s edema.
“Being 21 and staying up and drinking and smoking and partying after every show does not help, but also in my case, it does not cause it. So my voice always sounded like this — it’s a part of my unique anatomy.”
Cyrus says that she has one large polyp on her vocal cords that has caused her voice to be grittier. While Cyrus likes the texture and tone that the condition gives her voice and that it makes her unique as an artist, she does note that it takes a toll on her physically as well.
“But it’s extremely difficult to perform with because it’s like running a marathon with ankle weights on.
Even when I’m talking sometimes, at the end of the day, I’ll call my mom and she’ll go, ‘Oh, you sound like you’re talking through a radio. And that’s how you know I’m really tired, because it creates that ultimate vocal fry.”
While you can address Reinke’s edema with a surgery to remove the polyp, there is a chance your voice can change afterward. Cyrus now looks at her condition as a “blessing” because it’s part of the reason she has a successful career, even though it can be challenging as a touring musician.
“My voice is super unique because of it, but I do have this Reinke’s edema and I have this large polyp on my cords, and I’m not willing to sever it ever, because the chance of waking up from a surgery and not sounding like myself is a probability.
I really had it on my heart that I don’t speak and don’t really care to talk about this thing that’s really precious and really private to me. But it is a real thing.”
It’s never been in question that Miley can sing, and many of her fans love her gritty vocals. The texture of her voice drives home her hard-hitting lyrics even more.
Keith Urban is also a fan of her voice, once comparing her vocals to something…well, very unique while appearing on an Australian radio show.
“I love that voice, man, that voice. She sounds like an ashtray. And I mean that as a compliment. She sounds like the carpet at the RSL!”
@dailymailshowbiz Keith Urban has compared Miley Cyrus’ voice to ‘an ashtray’ in a recent interview. Appearing on Nova 96.9’s Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Thursday morning, the 56-year-old country music star was asked about the 31-year-old Flowers hitmaker. #mileycyrus #cyrus #miley #singer #pop #flowers ♬ original sound – Daily Mail Entertainment
I understand why Cyrus kept this condition close to her chest; it’s serious and something she’s dealt with for a long time. I am sure that she’s dealt with this on her own as well to minimize the outside noise of people telling her to get the surgery to remove the polyp.
Now that she has shared this with fans, if she has an off night while performing, remember that she has a serious condition that sometimes affects her live performances.
“I don’t lip-synch. I sing live, and these songs are big. I don’t write little songs.”
Before you go, check out one of my favorite country performances from Cyrus. Nothing compares to her singing her godmother’s song “Jolene.”
