SHAYNE WARD - WARD TO HAVE SURGERY TO SAVE VOICE

WARD TO HAVE SURGERY TO SAVE VOICE

Chart-topping British pop star SHAYNE WARD has flown to Los Angeles for throat surgery to save his voice. The 21-year-old singer, who shot to fame after winning British TV talent show THE X FACTOR last December (05), will go under the knife on Thursday (31AUG06) to have career-threatening nodules removed from his vocal cords. Ward's manager and The X Factor judge LOUIS WALSH is confident in the team of surgeons who will operate on the THAT'S MY GOAL hitmaker. Walsh says, "He's having the op on Thursday. It's the team of doctors who've performed on MARIAH CAREY and WHITNEY HOUSTON. We're confident he'll be singing again in six weeks." Other stars who have suffered from the infamous throat affliction include JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and ROD STEWART.