Rachel Ray's unique raspy voice is partly a result of childhood illnesses and a significant medical procedure she underwent later in life as a child Ray suffered from recurrent bouts of croo an illness that causes swelling of the vocal cords windpipe and bronchial tubes we frequently post videos on topics like this so don't forget to like And subscribe to our channel to stay informed and never miss an update this condition often leads to a characteristic barking cough and can sometimes cause lasting damage to the vocal chord if severe or frequent enough which appears to have been the case for Ry in 2008 rumors circulated that Ry had throat cancer but these were unfounded in reality she needed surgery to remove a benign cyst from her vocal cord this minor operation performed in December 2008 was necessary to address her ongoing vocal issues despite the surgery which could have helped her regain a normal voice the demands of her career led her to resume work quickly preventing adequate healing time for her vocal cords consequently her voice remained raspy a feature that has since become a recognizable part of her public Persona despite the medical challenges Ray's voice has not deterred her success she continues to be a prominent figure in the culinary World beloved by fans for her approachable style and distinctive voice the surgery and her history of cro have left a lasting Mark but they have also contributed to the unique charm that defines Rachel Ray