Martina McBride's vocal chords 'shot' after overusing them for 30 years, fans worry about her career
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Martina McBride's recent performance at the Judds' Final Tour show in Nashville has left fans worried for her future as she was heard singing in a raspy and discordant voice. The 56-year-old 'Concrete Angel' singer's vocal cords were put through a lot over years, limiting her ability to hit some of her favorite notes.
"This isn't the first time Martina has sung off-key," sources said, according to RadarOnline. "At other concerts, she's performed the same songs perfectly and others not nearly as well. She can't blame the sound system," they added. She was performing at Wynonna Judd's tribute tour to her mother Naomi, who died by suicide in April.
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"She's really putting her voice at risk by going straight into a holiday tour after already getting off a tour," a certified Alexander Technique vocal coach Milos Kleiman reportedly said, adding, "Martina has even gone to doctors to see if vocal cord surgery would help, but they just tell her the change in her voice is from aging and from overuse all these years." Insiders said that McBride had overused her vocal chords for more than 30 years and even performed when she was down with bronchitis and a cold to not displease her fans.
Although McBride was experiencing vocal issues, she plans to perform until December 18, after announcing a 12-day tour in September that begins in Greensboro, North Carolina and ends in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is still considered to be one of the special guest singers for Judd's final tour, which will continue in 2023.
Judd will face some tough competition on the road with artists including Little Big Town, Brandi Carlile, Ashley McBryde and Kelsea Ballerini among others. In a recent interview with Good Morning America, the 58-year-old singer said how the opportunity to embark on a new tour as the surviving member of The Judds helped her find meaning in the tragedy of her mother's death. Even though Judd reportedly said that she was making an effort to get over her loss, she still wished her mother could be on stage with her.