Neil Diamond on Living With Parkinson’s: ‘I Have to Take Life as It Comes and Enjoy It’
The 'Sweet Caroline' singer said that music keeps him going
Neil Diamond hasn’t let anything stop him from continuing to live out his music dreams, even while living with Parkinson’s disease. The legendary singer-songwriter took around five years to publicly discuss his condition after his diagnosis. But when he did, his insights on living with the disorder were nothing short of inspiring and, as experts point out, imperative for managing Parkinson’s. Here is what Neil Diamond has shared about his health journey.
Neil Diamond stopped touring after Parkinson’s diagnosis
Diamond first announced his Parkinson’s diagnosis in January 2018 when he retired from touring and cancelled the final stops of his 50th Anniversary tour, which were scheduled to begin in March 2018.
“The onset of the disease has made it difficult to travel and perform on a large scale basis but will allow Mr. Diamond to continue his writing, recording and development of new projects,” read a statement on Diamond’s website.
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The statement went on to explain that the decision had been based on advice from Diamond’s doctors. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease and progressive movement disorder that affects the central nervous system. Common symptoms include body tremors (shaking), stiffness, slowed movement and trouble with balance among others.
“It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years,” said Diamond at the time. “I plan to remain active in writing, recording and other projects for a long time to come. My thanks goes out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world. You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement. This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good’ thanks to you.”
Neil Diamond opens up about Parkinson’s journey
Despite his Parkinson’s diagnosis and retirement from touring, Diamond hasn’t given up on the things he loves—which, it turns out, are part of what keeps him going. After the Broadway musical A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical, premiered in 2022, the Hall of Famer sat down to delve further into his experience with the disease. Here’s what he shared:
He hasn’t given up singing
During an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, Diamond was asked whether it was a challenge to give up his touring career.
“Oh, I still haven’t given it up, yet,” he said. As evidenced by his taking the stage to lead the crowd at Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre through a live rendition of Sweet Caroline, Diamond confirmed: “I still can sing.”
Singing had been a major part of his life for 50 years, he said at the time, and he still enjoyed doing it at 82 years old (Diamond is now 84). “I feel good,” he said. “It’s like, all the systems in my mind and my body are working as one when I’m singing. And it’s a great feeling.”
Indeed, it’s common for someone with a diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disorder to tend to isolate themselves from others and often withdraw and become depressed, says Mary Ann Picone, MD, Medical Director at Holy Name Medical Center’s MS Center. This is why continuing to engage in hobbies that spark joy is crucial to maintain physical and mental well being.
“This can help in maintaining a sense of identity and purpose which can help manage the challenges of the disease,” she says. “Parkinson’s Disease can lead to decreased movement and stiffness, so staying active physically can help maintain motor skills as well as decrease fatigue.”
He was working on accepting Parkinson’s
Diamond also admitted that coming to terms with his condition had been a challenge.
“It’s very hard,” he said during his CBS appearance. “In a sense, I was in denial for the first year or two. When the doctor told me what it was, I was just not ready to accept it. I said, ‘Oh, okay. I’ll see you, you know, whenever you wanna see me. But I have work to do, so I’ll see you later.’”
He went on to explain that even years later, he was still working on accepting his condition, and that he had only recently begun to make peace with his Parkinson’s. “I’m still doing it. And I don’t like it,” he said. “Okay, so this is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am.”
He continued: “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.”
He’s learned to appreciate his blessings
While music had given him a successful career doing something he loved, Diamond admitted he wasn’t always able to appreciate it.
“I’ve had a pretty amazing life, it’s true,” he said. “And the thing was, I wasn’t always able to look back on it and be comfortable with it, smile, feel that I was worth it. I think all of that good stuff is starting to come into my life.”
So, what changed? It turns out Parkinson’s had in some ways helped Diamond reflect on his life and musical achievements with a newfound perspective.
“Well, I can’t really fight this thing, so I had to accept it, this Parkinson’s disease,” he explained. “There’s no cure. There’s no getting away from it. You can’t just say, ‘Okay, enough already. Let’s get back to life.’ It doesn’t work like that. But I’ve come to accept what limitations I have, and still have great days. I just have to take life as it comes to me, enjoy it, be thankful that I’ve had it, especially having the life that I’ve had.”
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