When a video of country music star Justin Moore singing his hit single Small Town USA from 2009 to a Virgina crowd this past August 8 went viral, it wasn’t the nostalgia that had fans talking – but Moore’s appearance. The singer quickly had to step in to clear the air.
In conversation with his long-time country music friend Tracy Lawrence in his podcast , TL’s Road House, Moore opened up about his different appearance, specifically addressing his fat neck, which is noticeably larger than it was a few months ago. What he thought might be cancer, thankfully turned out be entirely something else.
What Happened to Justin Moore?
“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 joked about his fatty neck on the podcast.
Truth be told, Moore feared that this growth on his neck could be sign of lipoma. But when doctors had him tested, they ruled out cancer diagnosing it as a benign fatty growth that was untreatable. However, if operated on, it could risk his voice and singing.
Keeping the spirits high, Justin joked about his condition: “It’s weird, it doesn’t affect me, I just look like a linebacker circa 1982, thick neck.” As for looks those didn’t bother him either. He cracked another joke saying, “I’ve never sold records because of my looks in the first place.”
Justin’s Wife Kate Gave Him Some Tough Love
While relived to learn that his benign growth was non-cancerous and relatively harmless, the 42-year-old star was still disappointed. So what happened next? His wife, Kate, whom he married in 2007, has to put things in perspective.
“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… 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,’” Moore recalled.
Justin Had Been to Rehab to Tackle Health Concerns Before
Not long ago, Moore stepped away from touring and took a break to focus on his health and family. The country singer took the stage a month later in Knoxville, Illinois, addressing the reason behind going MIA. The You Look Like I Need a Drink singer told the crowd at his concert that he’d recently spent 30 days in rehabilitation after his “drinking got out of control,” and was marking his 31st day sober that night.
He continued, “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.” (via People)
Now that Moore is back and in good spirits, we will soon see more from him. The singer is currently working on a new album with four new songs already recorded and plans to drop the project in the first quarter of 2027.
