Carly Simon is bravely battling her heartbreaking health issues.
In a tearful statement released on Monday, July 27, the Why hitmaker sent shockwaves to fans by revealing that she has been diagnosed with cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
The 83-year-old legendary singer also shared that she underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, amid her Parkinson’s diagnosis and treatment.
“So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing. The truth is, I’ve been learning how to live with Parkinson’s disease,” she wrote in the emotional statement.
She continued, “It has taken me some time to understand the diagnosis, to adjust to it, and to decide how much I wanted to say about it publicly. Parkinson’s is different for everyone, and it can be unpredictable. Some days I’m so tired I can’t get the day moving at all. On others, it gives me a little more room to move, think, work, and feel like myself.”
The You Belong to Me singer revealed that her health problems began with arthritis in both knees and one hip, leading to three joint replacement surgeries.
When her mobility continued to decline despite undergoing procedures, further tests at the Mayo Clinic resulted in a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
She went on to share that she had started treatment, including medication to manage stiffness and other symptoms, noting that the illness is “unpredictable” and affects her differently everyday.
Simon explained that Parkinson’s disease affects more than just movement, and can also cause anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and apathy.
“The apathy is particularly strange. You can find yourself lying there like a starfish drying in the sun, arms pointing in all directions, while nothing inside is telling you to get up, read, watch, write, sing, call someone, or do much of anything at all. That has been one of the hardest things to explain. It is not simply sadness or laziness. It is as though the part of the brain that sends out invitations to participate in life has temporarily misplaced the guest list,” she penned.
The Anticipation singer then revealed that she had also undergone surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma from her face, which left her feeling self-conscious about her appearance.
She added that her Parkinson’s diagnosis, health struggles, and the emotional impact led her to withdraw from public life.
“But I have not stopped living, and I have not stopped working,” Simon added.
In the statement, Carly Simon said recording her upcoming album, Comes in Waves, became a source of comfort during her health battle, explaining that the project brought together songs and ideas she had been saving for years and the time finally felt right to complete them.
“I do not consider Parkinson’s a gift or a blessing. It is neither. It is difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening. I am still learning how to live with it and how to accept it without feeling that I have surrendered something essential,” she stated.
The songstress added, “I am deeply grateful to my children, my family, my friends, my caregivers, and the medical professionals who have helped me through this. Their love and patience have carried me through days when my own reserves were not enough.”
She concluded, I wanted to share this now because so many people have reached out with genuine concern. I am touched by that concern, even when I have not known how to respond. These days I move more slowly, I lean on others more than I once did, and I have learned to accept that every day will look a little different. But I am still very much here. With love, Carly.”
Carly Simon’s Comes in Waves release date
Carly Simon is set to release her 24th studio album, Comes in Waves, on August 14, 2026.
