He is one of the most beloved and successful singer-songwriters of all time, with a career
spanning six decades and countless hits. But Neil Diamond has also faced a personal challenge that
has forced him to reevaluate his life and his legacy. The 82-year-old legend revealed that he
had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2018 and subsequently announced his retirement
from touring. Since then, he has been living with a condition that affects the
central nervous system and causes tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with movement.
In this video, we will explore what Neil Diamond has said about his Parkinson’s diagnosis,
how it has affected his life and career, and what he hopes for the future. Join
us as we celebrate the life and legacy of this iconic artist who has touched
millions of hearts with his sweet, comforting voice and beautiful songs.
FactsVerse Presents: Neil Diamond Finally Speaks Out On His Parkinson's Diagnosis
A Living Legend
Neil Diamond is one of the most beloved and iconic singer-songwriters of our time.
He has sold over a hundred million records worldwide and has written some of the most
memorable songs of the last century. But, his road to success was not without its challenges.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1941, Neil Diamond grew up in a Jewish family that loved music. His
father was a dry goods merchant, but he also had a passion for singing and playing the guitar.
Diamond inherited his father's love for music and began playing the guitar at an early age.
Neil received his first guitar as a gift when he was 16 and immediately got to work writing
his own songs inspired by the singing cowboy movies he grew up watching and folk singer
Pete Seeger. Aside from being a gifted musician, Diamond was also an excellent
student and earned a scholarship to New York University, where he studied pre-med. However,
Diamond's true passion was always music, and he soon dropped out of college to
pursue a career in the music industry. He started out writing songs for other artists,
but it wasn't until 1966 that he released his first album, "The Feel of Neil Diamond."
Diamond's music quickly became popular, and he scored his first big hit with "Cherry,
Cherry" in 1966. Over the next few years, he released a string of hits,
including "Solitary Man," "Sweet Caroline," and "Cracklin' Rosie." His music was catchy,
upbeat, and infectious, and he quickly became one of the most popular artists of the 1970s.
Despite his success, Diamond faced his share of personal challenges. He struggled with
addiction and went through a painful divorce in the late 1970s. Despite these struggles,
he continued to make music and released a number of successful albums throughout the
1980s and 1990s. Throughout his career, Neil released 32 studio albums, 8 live albums,
35 compilation albums and 94 singles. He also embarked on dozens of tours that drew
in millions of audience members – many of whom likely knew every word of his iconic songs.
In 2018, Diamond announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and would
no longer be touring. It was a heartbreaking moment for his fans, but Diamond remained
upbeat and positive, saying that he planned to continue writing and recording music.
Breaking His SIlence
In a recently aired interview with "CBS Sunday Morning," Neil Diamond spoke candidly about the
difficult journey he has faced coming to terms with his Parkinson's disease
diagnosis. Despite publicly revealing his diagnosis in 2018, the 82-year-old legend
admits that he struggled to accept the news and remained in denial for a year or two.
But as time has passed, Diamond has found a sense of calm amidst the chaos,
and has learned to accept his new reality. "This is me. This is what I have to accept.
And I'm willing to do it... this is the hand that God's given me,
so, I have to make the best of it." he said when speaking to CBS Sunday Morning host Anthony Mason.
Diamond has also been able to find solace in the quieter moments of life,
recognizing that he likes himself better and is easier on others and himself. Despite his
diagnosis, Diamond's music continues to inspire fans around the world, and his
positive attitude and unwavering determination are a testament to his incredible spirit.
Although he has accepted his Parkinson's diagnosis, Neil Diamond acknowledges that
living with the disease is still incredibly challenging. He recognizes that there is
no cure and no escaping it, and he must make the most of his situation. Even so,
he has learned to accept his limitations and still has good days despite the difficulties.
Diamond's Parkinson's diagnosis in 2018 forced him to scrub the Australian leg of his highly
anticipated 50th-anniversary tour. Neil had already performed several shows across the
US and Europe before announcing his abrupt retirement from touring. After making that
no doubt incredibly difficult decision to stop touring after receiving his diagnosis, many of
Diamond’s fans like assumed that they would never see their favorite artist
perform again. While that conclusion seemed to a be a reasonable one, Neil has made a couple
of notable public appearances in the years since receiving that life-changing news.
A Surprise Performance
Recently, Diamond surprised fans with an impromptu
performance of "Sweet Caroline" at the opening night of "A Beautiful Noise,
The Neil Diamond Musical," a Broadway show based on his life and career.
Diamond stood in a box seat holding a microphone alongside his wife Katie McNeil, and the audience
joined in for the famous chorus. A clip of his impromptu performance went viral on social media.
Diamond had retired from touring due to Parkinson's disease in 2018,
but the Broadway musical based on his life and career opened to great success.
Diamond and McNeil were met with a standing ovation when they walked the red carpet,
and they met with members of the cast, crew, and creative team backstage.
Though he admits feeling a bit embarrassed and scared watching his life story portrayed on stage,
Diamond remains humble and grateful for his fans and the success he has achieved. Discussing his
thoughts on the musical in a bit more detail, Diamond said that"Being found out is the scariest
thing” because “we all have a facade.”. After making that frank admission, he went on to add,
“And the truth be known to all of them. I'm not some big star. I'm just me,".
Aside from making an appearance at the opening night of A Beautiful Noise, Neil Diamond has made
a few other public appearances since receiving his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
In June 2019, he performed ‘Sweet Caroline’ at a charity gala in Las Vegas,
where he received the Power of Love Award for his contributions to music and philanthropy.
In January 2020, he celebrated his 79th birthday with a surprise concert for
firefighters who battled the bushfires in Australia. He sang ‘Sweet Caroline’
and other songs with his wife Katie McNeil and a group of firefighters in Colorado.
In March 2020, Neil joined the trend of celebrities singing songs to encourage
people to wash their hands amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He posted
a video on Twitter where he sang a modified version of ‘Sweet Caroline’,
changing the lyrics to “hands, washing hands” and "don’t touch me, I won’t touch you".
In April 2020, he participated in the One World: Together at Home concert,
a global event organized by Lady Gaga and Global Citizen to support frontline workers as well as
the World Health Organization. He performed 'Sweet Caroline' from his home in Colorado.
In June 2021, Diamond made a surprise appearance at Fenway Park in Boston,
where he once again sang ‘Sweet Caroline’ with actor Will Swenson,
who plays him in A Beautiful Noise. The song has been the anthem of the Boston
Red Sox since 1997 and has also become popular with England football fans during Euro 2020.
Although he has faced many challenges – especially in recent years, Neil Diamond remains
an inspiration to us all. His music continues to touch the hearts of millions, and his positive
outlook and resilience in the face of adversity are a true testament to his enduring legacy.
He’s Not Totally Done
Neil Diamond may have retired from touring in 2018 due to his Parkinson's diagnosis,
but he has not given up on his passion for music. The singer-songwriter, who has sold
over 130 million records worldwide and has been inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, has continued to write songs and record new material
in his home studio. He has also collaborated with several other artists and producers,
such as Rick Rubin, who worked with him on his acclaimed albums 12 Songs and Home Before Dark.
Diamond has also recently sold his entire song catalog as well as the rights to all
recordings from throughout his career to Universal Music Group,
joining other legends such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Stevie Nicks who have made similar
deals. UMG, which represents some of the biggest names in music today, such as Rihanna, Taylor
Swift, Kanye West, and Adele have not disclosed the value of the deal, but said it considered it
to be a great honor to be the steward of Diamond's timeless legacy. Diamond said he was delighted to
partner with UMG and expressed his gratitude to his fans for their support throughout his career.
Although he has faced serious health concerns recently, Diamond has shown no signs of slowing
down or losing his love for music. He has said that he still enjoys singing and writing songs,
and that he hopes to share more of his music with the world in
the future. He has also said that he is grateful for having had such
a fulfilling life and career, and that he is optimistic about what lies ahead.
On that uplifting note, we're going to go ahead and wrap this video up.
But before you go, we'd love to hear from you! Did you know
that Neil Diamond was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2018 and that
he has since retired from touring? And were you aware that there is currently a Broadway
musical about his life and career that has drawn critical acclaim and praise from his fans? Let us
know in the comments. And as always, thanks for watching!