People magazine reports that Faith Hill has undergone surgery to correct damage stemming from an injury she sustained several years ago.

Hill showed up looking great on the arm of her husband, Tim McGraw, at last Sunday's (Feb. 22) Oscars, where he performed an emotional tribute to Glen Campbell. She was sporting a new shorter hairstyle, but some viewers also noticed a scar on the left side of the front of the singer's neck.

According to People's unnamed sources, 47-year-old Hill underwent a procedure called an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in January. The procedure is usually performed to relieve pain from a herniated disc.

The source adds that Hill first had surgery for the problem in the back of her neck in 2011. She is undergoing physical therapy, and her recovery is going well.

The story may help to explain why Hill has been largely away from the spotlight over the past two years, and has seemed visibly uncomfortable during some appearances. She has explained that she was fitted with braces, but has given no further information. She has not commented publicly on People's story.

If true, the piece could also explain why Hill's next studio album has been so slow to materialize. Her last full-length album of new material was released in 2005, and she's been at work on new material since some time around 2011. She's already released three songs that were slated for the album, but has never confirmed a release date for the entire project.

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