In a conversation with Zane Lowe from Apple Music on May 22, 2025, Miley Cyrus openly addressed a persistent physical issue that has influenced her vocal abilities, affected her professional journey, and remains profoundly personal to her.

Cyrus informed Lowe that she is afflicted with Reinke’s oedema, which she attributed to “abuse of the vocal cords.”

This condition leads to the accumulation of fluid in the vocal folds, resulting in swelling, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic. While it can also arise from acid reflux or vocal strain, it is most prevalent among individuals with a history of smoking.

In more critical cases, surgical intervention may be required, and it often leads to hoarseness and a lower vocal pitch. Although generally harmless, it signifies damage to the vocal cords and typically does not improve without medical treatment or changes in lifestyle.

In Cyrus’s case, the disorder was present alongside a vocal cord polyp, which has greatly influenced the texture and tone of her voice.

“I have this very large, you know, polyp on my vocal chord that has 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.

The former Disney Channel actress indicated that her unique singing style is primarily attributed to her anatomy rather than her lifestyle. While her partying and smoking in her early twenties may have contributed to the stress, they were not the underlying cause.

Cyrus confessed that the idea of touring frequently crosses her mind, but the logistics are more complicated. “I put a tour together like every other week ’cause I want to do it, but it would have to be in a way that is sustainable for me in all the ways that we talked about and then also with what I got going on. Like, I don’t lip-sync, I sing live,” she shared.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Cyrus does not plan to undergo surgery. “I’m not willing to sever ever it because the chance of waking up from a surgery and not sounding like myself is a probability,” she stated.

She discussed the illness and recognized that it was challenging to reveal it publicly. “I really like 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,” she mentioned.

In spite of the difficulties, Cyrus referred to the condition as a “blessing,” asserting that it has given her voice the distinctive quality that defines her sound and artistic identity.

At the 2024 Grammy Awards, she finally garnered the recognition she merited for her artistic talents. Cyrus was awarded her first golden gramophone in February after winning Best Pop Solo Performance for the empowering anthem “Flowers,” which is featured on her 2023 album “Endless Summer Vacation.”

For the eight-time nominee, this song marked a pivotal moment in her career. Her album received nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, while the single was nominated for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Additionally, she was honored with a Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award for “Thousand Miles.”

Despite this wave of acclaim, Cyrus made it clear that traditional touring and public displays are no longer her primary creative focus. In a heartfelt letter titled “Sent From Heaven,” shared via X on May 25, 2023, she addressed her fans directly.