Country Singer Reveals Health Scare Over ‘Thick Neck’ Condition
Fans had pointed out changes in the award-winning musician’s appearance.
Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images
An award-winning country singer said his “thick neck” sparked worried comments from fans, eventually prompting him to seek medical testing.
On Wednesday, Justin Moore opened up about the health scare on fellow country artist Tracy Lawrence’s TL’s Road House podcast.
“I’ve had some health issues. Nothing life-threatening, thankfully,” the 42-year-old said. “I’m sure people think, ‘Golly, he’s been eating good.’”
He then lifted his head and squeezed the area under his chin, saying that he had thought he had cancer, or a lipoma, a non-cancerous tumor.
“But it’s just fat,” he said. “It’s benign, thank God.”
Sign up to receive news and updates from The Looker
By clicking “Sign Up” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Justin Moore discussed a health scare prompted by his ”thick” neck in the ”TL’s Road House” podcast.
YouTube/TL’s Road House
When Moore began to worry about his health, he visited a doctor.
After undergoing an MRI, the “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” singer learned that he did not have cancer.
Still, his mind took him to “the worst possible places,” he said. His wife, Kate Moore, helped his anxieties subside.
![The stars of the new film "Good Will Hunting" pose together as they arrive for the film's premiere December 2 in Los Angeles. Shown (L-R) are Ben Affleck ,Minnie Driver and Matt Damon. [The film tells the story of a misunderstood young genius growing up in a working class Boston neighborhood. The story was originally conceived by Damon to fulfill a writing assignment while he was a student at Harvard University. The film opens in limited release in the United States December 5.]](https://media.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/NLTRBAQXVVH5JIQJNPXYHYDKW4.JPG?auth=234b5ddca6b8adb77cfc42a42869b7e0c8a9d45f7ea9883c53c0773d04457d11&width=1600&height=1600&focal=687%2C687)
“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.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’ve never sold records because of my looks in the first place,’” he joked.
The couple has been married since 2007 and shares four children: Ella, 16; Kennedy, 14; Rebecca, 12, and South, 9.
Justin Moore and his wife Kate at the 47th Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2013.
Eric Henderson/Reuters
Moore said the doctors told him it would be “very, very difficult to do surgery,” and that surgery might affect his singing and speaking voice.
“It’s weird, it doesn’t affect me,” Moore said. “I just look like a linebacker circa 1982, you know, thick neck, whatever.”
Moore knew other people might have opinions about his appearance—fans had expressed similar sentiments in the past few months.
On August 9, one person posted a TikTok video of Moore during a concert. The top comment with over 12,000 likes read, “Holy s--t, Justin Moore has ate a small town.”
Other commenters worried if health issues had contributed to changes in his appearance.
Justin Moore performing onstage for the Cowboy As It Gets Tour 2026 on April 18, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ABA
Moore said he also experienced some “health stuff” with blood pressure.
“I hadn’t gone to the doctor, up until last year, in probably 10 years,” he revealed. “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.”
Justin Moore with his New Artist of the Year Award at the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2014.
Steve Marcus/Reuters
Moore also discussed his issues with alcohol use, which he said started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He entered rehab for 30 days in early June, after his “drinking got out of control,” People reported.
“A drink at five turned into three and noon, and then before you know it it’s all day every day,” he said in the podcast. “It started affecting my life.”
Moore has been sober since finishing rehab and is now back to touring.
Unlock a year of full access to The Looker and The Daily Beast for $35.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Ad-Free
$79
First year then $119.99/year
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Looker and The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Ad-Free
$79
First year then $119.99/year
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…