Country singer Justin Moore, 42, has revealed that a buildup of fat in his neck is benign but cannot be removed without risking his voice.
The Arkansas native, who announced in June that he was taking time off from touring to focus on his health, shared the update during an appearance on Wednesday's episode of Tracy Lawrence's TL's Roadhouse podcast.
Moore explained that he sought medical evaluation after detecting a buildup of fat around his neck, which left him with a noticeably thicker appearance that he compared to a linebacker circa 1982.
Medical Evaluation and Surgery Risks
Before undergoing testing, the Small Town USA performer worried that the unusual growth might be cancerous.
Doctors performed a comprehensive evaluation, including a magnetic resonance imaging scan, commonly known as an MRI. The scan determined that the mass was non-cancerous and consisted entirely of harmless fat tissue.
Despite the benign diagnosis, medical professionals advised Moore against undergoing surgical removal due to the location of the growth.
Surgeons warned that operating near critical nerve pathways in the neck presented significant complications that could permanently impair his speaking and singing voice.
"I've had some health issues. Nothing life-threatening, thankfully. I've got a... I don't know if you can see this on my neck, I'm sure people think, 'Golly, he's been eatin' good,'" Moore told Lawrence on the podcast.
"We thought it was called a lipoma. But it's just fat. It's benign, thank God. And they told me it would be very, very difficult to do surgery, and it may affect my singing, and even my speaking voice," he explained.
Moore added with humor: "It's weird, it doesn't affect me, I just look like a linebacker circa 1982, thick neck."
Diagnosis and Reaction From Family
While relieved that the growth was benign, Moore admitted to feeling bummed out upon learning that doctors could not safely remove the fat.
"My wife and I were walking out of the hospital when I had an MRI or something and they had told us, 'Man, great news. It's benign, but there's really not anything we can do about it,'" Moore recalled.
"So I was kind of bummed out walking out of the hospital, cause at the time we didn't know if it was cancer. We didn't know what it was, you know, and of course your mind takes you to the worst possible places obviously," he said.
His wife of nine years, Kate, provided swift perspective on the situation as they departed the medical facility.
The couple shares four children, including three daughters and one son.
"And my wife looked at me, she goes, 'If you just have a fat neck and you're here for the next 50 years, then shut up and stop complaining,'" the singer remembered.
Fan Concerns on Social Media
Public attention surrounding Moore's appearance first intensified after video footage circulated online from a recent concert performance.
Concertgoers initially noticed his enlarged neck in a viral TikTok clip recorded while Moore was performing as the opening act for Riley Green's As Good As It Gets Tour on August 8.
The video prompted widespread concern among fans, who posted numerous comments discussing his visible change in appearance.
"Hope he is ok his face looks swollen," one fan commented on the post.
Another user asked: "What happened to that guy."
A third fan questioned: "okay can someone tell me if he is okay?"
Avoidance of Medical Care
Addressing the timing of his diagnosis, Moore admitted during the interview that he had avoided visiting doctors for a decade preceding his recent health scare.
He attributed his reluctance to seek routine medical attention to the traditional, hardworking mindset passed down by his family in Arkansas.
"I hadn't gone to the doctor, up until last year, in probably 10 years... My grandfathers greatly influenced me, and they were the type that it's like, if a limb's hanging off and you're working, you just kinda tape it back up and go for it, so I was the same way," Moore confessed.
The musician first gained widespread prominence in country music a couple of decades ago following the release of his debut single Back That Thing Up and his subsequent breakout hit Small Town USA.
Sobriety Journey and Pandemic Drinking
In addition to discussing his neck growth, Moore spoke openly during the podcast about his ongoing journey with sobriety.
He revealed that his alcohol consumption escalated significantly during the isolation of the COVID pandemic.
"A drink at 5 [pm] turned into three at noon and then before you know it it's all day every day and not even really getting smashed," Moore said.
Over time, daily drinking began interfering with both his career commitments and his personal family life.
"It started affecting my life. I just kind of looked at myself in the mirror... I was putting so much energy into drinking and all that kind of stuff that it was taking away not only my professionalism but my family, most importantly church," he explained.
Turning Point and Treatment
Moore described reaching a clear turning point following a church service on a Sunday morning.
"I don’t even know what prompted it. I just thought, 'Man, I want to get healthy,'" Moore recalled. "I feel like myself for the first time in a while. I'm actually proud of myself for the first time in a while."
The singer previously disclosed his decision to enter addiction treatment during a concert performance in Knoxville, Illinois on July 9.
That show marked his first stage appearance following a month-long hiatus from performing, during which fans in the crowd displayed a sign reading "Welcome back."
Addressing the audience directly, Moore confirmed that he had completed 30 days in a residential rehabilitation facility after recognizing that his drinking had gotten out of control.
"I know some of you have probably seen... I know there’s a sign over here that says 'Welcome back,' that we’ve been off a while, and there was a lot of speculation, but my drinking got out of control," Moore told the crowd, according to a report by People magazine.
"I let down my band and my crew and most importantly God, my family. I just became a complete dumbass," he continued.
"But so I just got out of rehab for 30 days. This is my 31st day sober. And I’m gonna try to help as many people from this point forward until my last days on earth, and hopefully set a much better example for my kiddos," Moore stated.
