Mariah's voice was shot in 98 when her wasband decided to torture her for leaving him. She made it out alive but, alas, her vocal cords didn't survive the trauma (and subsequent drinking and multiple tummy lipos). Her launching various ad hominem attacks against label mates, Céline and JLo, (whom she miscronstrued as industry plants to knock her off her pop throne) didn't help. Surgery is her only chance at regaining a steadier voice, but she's probably scared of losing that whistle register (understandably so). Her predicament ain't easy.