What happened to Selena Gomez's voice? The harms of vaping, explained
Sara Moniuszko, USA TODAYMon, October 19, 2026 at 2:17 PM UTC
Selena Gomez says vaping nicotine is what changed her voice. It can cause other serious health effects, too. Here's what to know.
Selena Gomez says vaping nicotine changed her voice. Health experts warn it can cause other serious health effects, too.
After online commentary about the seemingly shifted sound of the singer's voice, Gomez, 34, took to social media to share what she says caused it.
"I'm not going to be able to change my voice. I vaped nicotine a lot," she said on her Instagram Stories Oct. 18. "Nicotine is so hard to quit, and I think I just wanted to say, if you're going through it or if you're even trying to vape, it's just not worth it. It's so stupid, and it's changed my voice."
While it's unclear exactly when she vaped, Gomez added she did stop smoking and hopes she can "keep it up."
By 2015, e-cigarettes had taken over traditional cigarettes as the nicotine product of choice for U.S. high school students, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Tobacco Survey.
Youth vaping has continued to be an issue in the United States, surging from 8.1% in 2017 to a peak of 20% in 2019, according to a 2026 study. By 2024, youth vaping had fallen to 5.9%.
Here's what to know about the health impacts.
Health effects of vaping
Vaping can cause a range of health issues, according to Cleveland Clinic, including increased risk for asthma, lung scarring and other organ damage. Some ingredients in e-liquids are known to cause cancer, the clinic adds.
"No tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are safe," the CDC warns.
By February 2020, the CDC reported 2,807 e‑cigarette or vaping use‑associated lung injury hospitalizations across all 50 states, including 68 deaths.
Smoking can also affect your voice.
Smoke from tobacco products contain chemicals that can irritate vocal cords.
“Every time you inhale smoke, the smoke is going right past the vocal cords to get to your lungs. The vocal cords are the gateway to the lungs,” Dr. Candace Hrelec, a laryngologist and ear, nose and throat specialist, said in a Cleveland Clinic post. “Any chemical that you inhale can lead to irritation, sore throat and increased mucus and cough.”
Health effects of nicotine
Most e-cigarettes or vapes also contain nicotine, which has known adverse health effects, the CDC adds. Vapes may also have other ingredients like flavoring liquids and marijuana derivatives like THC or CBD.
Not only is nicotine highly addictive, it is also toxic to developing fetuses and is a health danger for pregnant women, the agency adds.
Plus, it "poses unique dangers to youth because their brains are still developing," the CDC notes.
For example, it can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control, according to the agency.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to Selena Gomez's voice? The harms of vaping, explained
Source: Entertainment
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