One of America’s most famous singers, Neil Diamond, finally came to terms with Parkinson’s disease and spoke with CBS Sunday Morning about it.
Neil Diamond Denied His Disease For Years
The 82-year-old revealed his diagnosis in 2018 and has now disclosed that he has only recently started to accept it.
Diamond admitted to being in denial and unable to come to terms with his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and brain, for the first one or two years after he was diagnosed, as reported by Mayo Clinic.
“I’m still doing it. And I don’t like it,” Diamond said during an interview that will air this weekend on “CBS Sunday Morning.”
“But … this is me; this is what I have to accept. And I’m willing to do it. And, OK, so this is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am. I am.”
The Struggles of Acceptance
Diamond revealed that he struggled to accept his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, which is a progressive disorder impacting the brain and the nervous system, for the first couple of years after being diagnosed.
According to Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s disease affects the parts of the body controlled by nerves.
“Somehow, a calm has moved [into] the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio. And I like it. I find that I like myself better. I’m easier on people. I’m easier on myself. And the beat goes on, and it will go on long after I’m gone,” the music legend said.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Neil Diamond retired from touring, but his life story is currently being portrayed in the successful Broadway production “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.”
“It was all pretty hard. I was a little embarrassed,” Diamond responded when asked how it feels to see his life onstage. “I was flattered, and I was scared.”
“Being found out is the scariest thing you can hope for because we all have a facade,” he added. “And the truth be known to all of ’em. I’m not some big star — I’m just me.”
Neil Diamond Speaks Openly About His Disease Sunday, April 2
Diamond’s latest interview will air Sunday, April 2, at 9 a.m. EST on CBS and can be streamed on Paramount+ or the CBS News app.
Although he retired from touring due to his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Diamond has still occasionally performed despite his condition.
On the opening night of the Broadway show about his life in December, despite giving up touring due to Parkinson’s disease, Diamond delighted the audience by singing a part of his gold-record single “Sweet Caroline” at the curtain call.
During the curtain call of the Broadway show about his life, Diamond sang a part of his famous song “Sweet Caroline” from his box seat at the Broadhurst Theatre, prompting a lively singalong that saw the entire audience standing up.
Diamond unloaded his song catalog and the rights to all recordings from his career to Universal Music Group for an undisclosed amount in February 2022.
He has sold more than 130 million albums with hit songs including “America,” “Love on the Rocks,” “Song Sung Blue,” “Red Red Wine” and “I’m a Believer.”
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