Carly Simon shares Parkinson’s diagnosis ahead of new album release
Singer says music has helped her navigate the challenges of the diagnosis
Legendary singer-songwriter Carly Simon has revealed she is living with Parkinson’s disease opening up about her health journey in a heartfelt statement.
"So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing," Simon said. "The truth is, I've been learning how to live with Parkinson's disease."
The 83-year-old said it took time to come to terms with her diagnosis and decide when she was ready to share the news publicly.
"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," she said, adding that she is still learning to accept the condition without feeling she has "surrendered something essential."
"Parkinson's is different for everyone," she said. "There is no tidy or predictable schedule to the illness."
The Grammy-winning artist also revealed that her diagnosis came after undergoing knee and hip replacement surgeries for arthritis. During the same period she received treatment for basal cell carcinoma on her face with surgery leaving her feeling self-conscious about her appearance.
"Between my mobility issues, the Parkinson's diagnosis, the surgery and the emotional effects of it all, withdrawing from public view was the most palatable reaction," Simon explained.
Her new album, Comes In Waves, is scheduled for release on August 14.
