Kimberly Williams-Paisley once feared she might never speak above a whisper again. In November 2022, the Father of the Bride actress suddenly lost her voice. Despite looking everywhere and trying everything, she couldn't be heard at a dinner party, on a red carpet, or by her two teen sons. Her voice is an essential part of her personality and career, and its absence left her feeling invisible.

Opening Up About the Ordeal

In January 2023, she visited the Vanderbilt Voice Center. Doctors examined her vocal cords through a scope but couldn't see them clearly due to tight muscles in her neck. She was diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia. Dr. Gaelyn Garrett, the executive medical director, explained that it was like a purse string squeezing the tissue above the vocal cords.The actress began physical therapy to reduce tension, including a specific type using hands-on treatments similar to myofascial release. She also started a personal "deep dive" to alleviate stress by seeing a mental health therapist, a psychic and astrologer, trying hypnosis, cutting out certain foods, and starting a daily meditation practice.A year later, her vocal cords were checked again. It was found that her left cord was weak and not touching the right when vibrating, a condition called partial paralysis, which might have been caused by a virus.To determine if surgery would help, the medical team injected a filler into her left cord. The filler worked, and she was a candidate for medialization laryngoplasty. In August, she underwent the three-hour surgery while awake. She described the experience as "bizarre" but also "beautifully symbolic" as it felt like she was waking up to herself.During the procedure, the team used a silicone rubber implant to hold the left vocal cord in place. When her voice returned to its natural tone, they knew the implant fit perfectly. Her resulting neck scar was significant, but she's now proud of it as it's part of her story.Now that she's on the other side of surgery, Williams-Paisley works to keep her voice healthy by meditating daily and performing vocal exercises. She also uses a hollow plastic swan suggested by the speech pathologist to hear her voice loud and strong.Today, her voice is ready to project again. She's even taken on her first professional job hosting Fox's next season of Farmer Wants a Wife, premiering March 20. She loves and appreciates her voice no matter what form it takes.