I Saw Paul Simon’s Return from Retirement—and It Was More Powerful Than I Expected

Legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon announced his retirement from live shows back in 2018—but earlier this year, he delighted fans with miraculous news: The 83-year-old singer was hitting the road again. Simon announced ‘A Quiet Celebration’ tour, which kicked off earlier this spring and continues through the summer, totaling 55 shows across 20 North American cities.

The tour is highlighting Simon’s recent Grammy-nominated album Seven Palms alongside timeless classics like “Graceland” and “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” but what sets these live acts apart from previous tours are the hand-picked venues. Simon has famously dealt with severe hearing loss in recent years and each venue was chosen for its intimate setting and optimal acoustics.

A few weeks ago, Simon stopped by Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium for a three-night stint—and Woman’s World was there to experience it firsthand! Keep scrolling to hear our exclusive coverage of the show, including Simon’s latest thoughts on longtime collaborator Art Garfunkel, how to get tickets for a performance near you and more!

Entertainment

Art Garfunkel on Paul Simon Reunion: Everything About Their Tumultuous Past

Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon formed one of the most iconic folk music duos of all time, Simon & Garfunkel. Known for hit songs like “Mrs. Robinson,” “The Sound of Silence,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and dozens of others, the Grammy Award-winning music duo, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, […]

A soft yet stirring start

When Simon first walked onto the Ryman stage, the sold-out crowd rose to their feet in a wave of applause. This last time Simon played the iconic venue was back in 2016. “I’m so grateful to be here tonight,” he told the audience. “It’s the first time I’ve been able to play with my band since COVID. I really thought I wasn’t going to be able to do it again, so I’m thrilled.” 

Simon then detailed the structure of the show to the audience. He explained that he—and his 11-piece band—would begin the night by playing his recent album Seven Psalms in its entirety. Then, they began playing the first track from it, “The Lord,” and continued through to the album’s closing tune, “Wait.” The 33-minute set highlighted the musicians’ talents and Simon’s vocals were extraordinarily soft and introspective, with the album’s lyrical depth translating well live. The crowd hung onto every word Simon quietly sang, touching on themes such as mortality, love and forgiveness.

Simon’s second set shimmered

After the intermission wrapped up, Simon returned to the famed stage—this time wearing his signature ball cap—and the band went right into the bright and bouncy unmistakable opening notes of “Graceland,” the title track off his classic 1986 album. The energy in the room picked up significantly during the second set. Simon also introduced his longtime bassist, Bakithi Kumalo, with a heartfelt welcome, noting that Kumalo was the last surviving member of the original Graceland band. 

He followed it up with “Slip Sliding Away,” then surprised the crowd with a fan-favorite song from a much earlier catalog. “This is a song from the Simon & Garfunkel days,” he said before going into “Homeward Bound.” The crowd sang along and Simon appeared moved by the reception. “I’ll tell Artie you liked it,” he wryly noted. When a roar of laughter and cheers followed, he replied: “I really will!” This remark was certainly welcome news for fans—since the famous duo has faced many rumors surrounding the ups and downs in their working relationship over many decades.

Simon brought out his wife, Edie Brickell—a renowned singer-songwriter known for her 1988 chart-topping album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars—for “Under African Skies.” Other standout songs included “Spirit Voices,” “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard” and “Mother and Child Reunion.” Songs off Graceland were definite crowd-pleasers throughout the night and even though Simon’s vocals are much softer than previous years, his iconic melodies, combined with the impressive musicality of the 11-piece backing band, created a beautiful show that shimmered with nostalgia. 

Entertainment

I Saw Ringo Starr’s Country Comeback—Here’s What to Expect Tonight

Ringo Starr’s gone country. Again. The iconic Beatles drummer has long woven country music into his work throughout the decades—both with the Fab Four and his solo career. One of Starr’s most notable country music moments in The Beatles was his lead vocal performance on Buck Owens’ classic “Act Naturally.” Then in 1970, Starr ventured […]

An encore to remember

Simon closed the night with “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” and “The Boxer,” the latter number eliciting sing-alongs of “lie-la-lie” that echoed through the Ryman. Then, for the final song, he stepped under the spotlight alone without his backing band. “Hello darkness my old friend,” he sang into the mic, launching into the 1964 Simon & Garfunkel hit “The Sound of Silence.” Closing the evening with this song choice was as stunning as it was stirring. 

Hearing the now 83-year-old musician sing these haunting lyrics offered a new perspective on the classic track—one of reverence and time gone by. It brought to mind Joni Mitchell’s haunting performance of “Both Sides Now” at the 2024 Grammys. When you hear certain lyrics sung by a 20-something-year-old artist and then again many decades later, the song suddenly presents itself from a more melancholy yet wiser perspective. “The Sound of Silence” packed a powerful, tear-inducing punch from Simon’s now much quieter vocal delivery. He continued singing lyrics “the people bowed and prayed” and the audience did exactly that (we were gathered in the ‘Mother Church’ after all). As the final notes played, the crowd roared—and cried—with applause while Simon looked ahead with gratitude and took a bow. 

Keep scrolling for Paul Simon’s full setlist at the Ryman Auditorium.

Set 1: Seven Psalms

1. “The Lord”
2. “Love is Like a Braid”
3. “My Professional Opinion”
4. “Your Forgiveness”
5. “Trail of Volcanoes”
6. “The Sacred Harp
7. “Wait”

Set 2:

1. “Graceland” 
2. “Slip Sliding Away”
3. “Train in the Distance”
4. “The Late Great Johnny Ace”
5. “Homeward Bound”
6. “St. Judy’s Comet”
7. “Under African Skies”
8. “Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War”
9. “Rewrite”
10. “Spirit Voices”
11. “Mother and Child Reunion”
12. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”

Deal of the Day

This Deep Conditioning Collagen Hair Mask for Has 4.9 Stars and Is 80% Off — Get It for $20! View Deal

Encore:

1. “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”
2. “The Boxer”

Encore 2:

1. “The Sound of Silence”

Wishing you could catch Simon on tour this summer? You still can! He has 20 dates left on his North American tour. For more information, visit PaulSimon.com.