Eurovision Star Izhar Cohen Opens Up About Smoking and Life in Candid Podcast
Israeli Eurovision legend Izhar Cohen revealed in a podcast interview that smoking helped him cope with intense stress and avoid hard drugs. The singer also discussed his recent vocal cord surgery.
The legendary Israeli singer and actor Izhar Cohen, best known for winning the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with the song A-Ba-Ni-Bi—Israel's historic first victory—recently opened up about his personal life in a surprising interview. Speaking on Guy Peleg's podcast, produced by the All In podcast network, Cohen revealed candid details about his long-term smoking habit.
"I smoke because I like to smoke, and smoking has helped me immensely throughout my life," Cohen shared during the conversation. "Because of smoking, I perhaps avoided alcoholism and hard drugs, as I lived an intense life, even to this day. I lived at a 24/7 pace; I would finish a project and wouldn't even hear the applause because I was already on my way to the next project."
Cohen admitted that he never knew a moment of rest, balancing immense pressure with his daily routine. "The cigarette helped me avoid having a heart attack. Those seconds of calm... I love to smoke and I have the right to smoke," he added. During the interview, Peleg asked if the habit affected his throat, to which Cohen acknowledged that it does, mentioning a recent surgery to remove a growth on his vocal cord, though noting artists frequently face vocal issues.
Looking back at his remarkable career, Cohen represented Israel a second time in Eurovision in 1985 with the song Oleh Oleh, finishing in fifth place. In his personal life, Cohen married in April 2025 after a thirty-year relationship, and he has a daughter from co-parenting with event producer Diana Tsarfati. Last year, the veteran star received a lifetime achievement award from AMI alongside prominent figures such as Sandra Sade, Moni Moshonov, and Yehuda Keisar.
