During an interview Thursday on the “Today” show<\/a>, the 63-year-old music icon announced his band, Bon Jovi, will launch its international “The Forever Tour” in July 2026.<\/p>\n While speaking with host Savannah Guthrie, Bon Jovi opened up about recovering from the vocal injury that nearly ended his decades-long career.<\/p>\n BON JOVI DOESN’T WANT TO BE \u2018THE FAT ELVIS,’ WILL BE \u2018CRUSHED\u2019 IF VOCAL SURGERY PUTS AN END TO TOURING<\/a><\/p>\n “One of my cords was atrophied, and the strong one was pushing the weak one around, and this one was dying,” he shared.<\/p>\n Jon Bon Jovi is launching a comeback tour after a vocal injury nearly ended his career.\u00a0 (\u00a0Michael Tran\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n The “Livin’ on a Prayer” hitmaker explained that “40 years of hard work”<\/a> had strained his vocal cords.<\/p>\n However, Bon Jovi found a surgeon who performed a medialization thyroplasty surgery, a cutting-edge procedure in which an implant was placed on the outside of his vocal cord to rebuild the weakened cord.<\/p>\n “The road’s been long and tough, but I persevered,” he said.<\/p>\n Following the operation, Bon Jovi said he embarked on a lengthy recovery process that included months of rehabilitation, vocal exercises and rebuilding his stamina.<\/p>\n The singer underwent major vocal cord surgery.\u00a0 (Shirlaine Forrest)<\/p>\n Bon Jovi noted that the injury could have ended his career entirely, telling Guthrie if he was unable to restore his voice to its former strength, he would have given up performing.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m not that applause junkie. I do it for the joy, and I do it for the art<\/a>,” Bon Jovi said. “The rest of it is great because I\u2019m good at it. But if you couldn\u2019t do it from a place of joy, what\u2019s the motivation?<\/p>\n “I have other things in my life. It\u2019s what I do. It\u2019s not who I am.”<\/p>\n However, he said he was determined to make a full recovery and return to the stage. Bon Jovi explained that he has devoted himself to rehearsing for hours every day in his garage to retrain his voice.<\/p>\n LIKE WHAT YOU\u2019RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n “It\u2019s like training for a marathon,” Bon Jovi said. “Anyone can go for a run. Being able to go the distance is a whole different set of commitment. You have to physically, mentally and spiritually be ready to do that again.”<\/p>\n Bon Jovi said he spent hours every day rehearsing to prepare for his return to the stage.\u00a0 (John Nacion\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n The Grammy Award winner<\/a> admitted there were many days he feared he had already performed his final concert.<\/p>\n “And then the next day, there’d be a little ray of hope,” Bon Jovi shared. “The next day was brighter. And until the next time, you get punched in the nose by some setback, you pick yourself up again and do it again.”<\/p>\n Bon Jovi said he now feels ready to perform again at his previous pace.<\/p>\n THE WHO’S PETE TOWNSHEND SAYS HE HAS ONLY FIVE YEARS LEFT IN SHOW BUSINESS CAREER<\/a><\/p>\n “I think I can confidently say that I can go and do my 2\u00bd hours, night after night after night,” he said. “But I wouldn\u2019t do it unless it was that.”<\/p>\n Bon Jovi’s interview was conducted inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden<\/a>, where he will perform his tour’s first concert.<\/p>\n “There are very few people in this world that can carry an arena. I know it’s exciting. Is it also a little scary?” Guthrie asked him.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “Sure, but you know, it’s just, that’s the human element,” he replied. “The good news is that I know that the band have my back and I can guarantee you that every person that will fill this house will be rooting for me.”<\/p>\n The Forever Tour kicks off in July 2026.\u00a0 (Image courtesy of Reuters)<\/p>\n On Oct. 24, Bon Jovi released its “Forever (Legendary Edition)” collaboration album, in which the band teamed up with some of the music world’s biggest stars, including Bruce Springsteen, Jelly Roll <\/a>and Avril Lavigne, to create new versions of songs from a 2024 album.<\/p>\n “It was a joy,” he said of working with the singers featured on the album.<\/p>\n “It was also beautiful, as a songwriter, to hear your songs interpreted by great artists,” he added.<\/p>\n![\"Jon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/jon-bon-jovi-tour-surgery.jpg\")
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