Jon Bon Jovi, the iconic singer of “Livin’ on a Prayer,” recently opened up about his ongoing recovery after undergoing surgery to mend a vocal cord injury. It has been 19 months since the Grammy-winning musician had “major reconstructive surgery” on his vocal cords, and he shared his reflections during a recent panel discussion.

During the Pollstar Live panel and a Hulu panel for the Television Critics Association, Jon Bon Jovi talked about the impact the surgery has had on his life. He spoke candidly about the difficulties he has faced on the road to recovery. As he explained in a video taken at the Pollstar event, one of his vocal cords was literally atrophying, requiring a procedure called medialization.

Surgery on the vocal cords can be a common occurrence for singers, often due to issues like nodules or deviated septums. However, for Bon Jovi, the experience was challenging because it felt like something out of his control. He vividly demonstrated the differences between his vocal cords, emphasizing how the strong one had to compensate for the weak one.

Fortunately, Bon Jovi found a doctor in Philadelphia who was able to repair the problem using a plastic implant. For nearly two years, he has been in rehab, working on getting his voice back to its former strength. And he’s getting closer to feeling like himself again.

In a recent performance at the MusiCares Person of the Year award ceremony, Bon Jovi showcased his progress. It was his first live performance in two years, marking an important milestone in his recovery. With a new record completed, he is eager to return to his regular routine of performing for two and a half hours a night, four nights a week.

Throughout his journey, Bon Jovi has often felt that his craft was being taken away from him. He expressed the desire to have his tools back, as the injury affected his ability to write songs and perform. But with his determination and confidence in his doctor, he is ready to take on the challenges ahead.

In addition to his recovery, fans can look forward to Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, the band’s upcoming docuseries on Hulu. The series, set to premiere on April 26, promises an intimate look into the life and career of Jon Bon Jovi and his band.