Miley Cyrus has opened up about the medical condition behind her famously raspy voice, revealing that it’s more than just a stylistic trademark—it’s part of who she is, and always has been.
In a candid conversation with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, the singer shared that she has Reinke’s edema, a noncancerous vocal cord disorder known to cause hoarseness and a noticeably deeper tone. It’s a condition that can make performing live particularly demanding.
She described the disorder as “abuse of the vocal cords,” but made it clear that lifestyle choices alone didn’t cause it. “Being 21 and staying up and drinking and smoking and partying after every show does not help,” she said, reflecting on her earlier years. “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.”
At 32, Cyrus said she’s learned to live with it—embracing the challenges rather than opting for treatment that could compromise the very sound that makes her voice so recognizable. “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,” she explained.
Singing with the condition isn’t easy. She likened it to “running a marathon with ankle weights on,” especially since her live shows involve powerful vocals and emotional delivery. “I don’t lip-sync. I sing live, and these songs are big,” she said. “I don’t write little songs.”
Despite the strain it can cause, Cyrus made it clear she has no plans to change what she considers an essential part of her artistry.
