HOLLYWOOD - Just say it.According to a poll conducted by the Center for Voice Disorders at Wake Forest University, some people's voices are better than others.
Between March and August 2001, nearly 3,000 people voted for America's best and worst voices, and the results are manifested in two top 10 lists: one for best and the other for worst.
Among the best is pretty woman Julia Roberts, who proves it's possible that looks and voice go hand in hand; she ranked No. 3. One of the worst included boxer Mike Tyson whose No. 10 spot reveals a powerful punch doesn't mean a knockout voice.
The study, released by James Koufman, M.D., director of the center, set out to understand how the human voice affects us and to understand the impact of voice disorders.
Although Koufman claims only about 3 percent of Americans have a voice disorder, he says it's often more disabling than hearing loss.
The best list:
1. James Earl Jones
2. Sean Connery
3. Julia Roberts
4. Katie Couric
5. Barbra Streisand
6. Sam Donaldson
7. Mel Gibson
8. Diane Sawyer
9. Meg Ryan
10. Anthony Hopkins
The worst list:
1. Fran Drescher
2. Roseanne Barr
3. Gilbert Godfried
4. Bobcat Goldthwait
5. Joan Rivers
6. Howard Stern
7. Rosie O'Donnell
8. Howard Cosell
9. Dick Vitale
10. Mike Tyson