Jon Bon Jovi has discussed how a key change in one of his biggest hits may have contributed to serious vocal problems he faced later in life, speaking on A Current Affair. The frontman explained the decision he made when the song was written and how it affected his voice over the years.
Bon Jovi was asked about regrets in his career and the choices he made with “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The song’s distinctive high note at the end became iconic, but the decision to include it at such a demanding pitch may have had long-term consequences for his voice.
Question: “How many regrets have you had in your career?”
“You know when they say: how many regrets have you had in your career? I’d never modulated a song at the end before. So I’m wide open to the idea,” Bon Jovi said. “[We were] 24 when we wrote the damn thing, and you work up the demo, and they go ‘let’s try this!’ When you’re that young and dumb, you’re like, ‘I could do this’.”
“I’ve practiced the craft. So when a doctor had to explain to me that one of the cords was literally atrophying, it was confusing.”
The singer went on to describe finding medical help to address the damage to his vocal cords. “I found this guy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was literally on the verge of retirement. He’s very majestic in his approach. To seal the deal with me, he says, ‘I promise you nothing. Stick to the protocols. Do this operation because it’s your only choice. And eventually you will be better than you are now. Trust the process.’ I couldn’t have said thank you any deeper.”
Bon Jovi faced serious vocal problems that required him to seek specialist treatment and ultimately undergo surgery. The comments come as the singer has returned to performing after addressing these health issues.
“Livin’ on a Prayer” came from Bon Jovi’s third studio album Slippery When Wet, released in August 1986. The song features a key change from E minor to G minor for the final chorus, a shift that has been described as one of the greatest key changes in music history. According to Bon Jovi, the key change was not part of the original song and came during rehearsals.
The vocal damage from singing the high-pitched key change became clear decades later. In 2022, Bon Jovi underwent vocal cord surgery to address the problem. During his recovery, he discovered that one of his vocal cords was extremely thick and another was much thinner, a condition that required medical intervention. He followed the same surgical path that Shania Twain had taken in 2018.
After surgery, Bon Jovi’s recovery was long and difficult. At his worst, he could not sing even simple songs like “Happy Birthday.” Over the following years, he worked with vocal coaches and performed vocal exercises to restore his voice. His bandmates supported him by waiting four years before returning to tour, giving him the time he needed to recuperate fully.
Bon Jovi’s Forever Tour began in July 2026 with performances at Madison Square Garden in New York before continuing to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
