JULIE ANDREWS SILENCE

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The hills may never again be alive with the sound of Julie Andrews singing. Medical problems have robbed the star of the full range of her legendary singing voice, say those close to her.

"My voice is pretty much nonexistent, but what can you do?" the 74-year-old told a friend in mid-October. "Life has a way of throwing things at you that you never expected."

The award-winning stage and screen performer – who once had a spectacular four-octave range – underwent throat surgery in 1997. She sued New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital and two doctors, and the case was settled out of court in 2000. Her friends say that she has not fully regained her singing ability.

"Julie is trying to put on the best face possible, but it’s killing her that she can no longer sing like she used to. It must be agony," a source revealed to The ENQUIRER.

"She loves to work and dreads retirement, and wishes she could still use her God-given talent."

Julie has just published a book with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, called Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs and Lullabies.

At a book signing on Oct. 6 at Barnes & Noble in NYC’s Tribeca neighborhood, eager fans waited in line with their cameras, hoping to snap a picture of the star.

But Julie appeared frail, and event organizers did not want anyone taking photos, says an eyewitness.

"The crowd was told the flashes of the cameras were too much of a strain on her eyes. We weren’t allowed to use our cameras, even without a flash," said the eyewitness.