Neil Diamond is one of the most beloved and best-selling musicians of all time, with classic songs like \u201cSweet Caroline,\u201d \u201cCracklin\u2019 Rosie,\u201d \u201cCherry, Cherry,\u201d and \u201cSong Sung Blue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The singer-songwriter delighted audiences with live performances for decades \u2014 but his successful concert touring career came to an end in 2018, after Diamond was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
In a recent interview, the 82-year-old musician opened up about finally coming to terms with the disease.<\/p>\n
Speaking with CBS Sunday Morning, Diamond revealed it took some time to process his Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a sense, I was in denial for the first year or two,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cWhen the doctor told me what it was, I was just not ready to accept it. I said, \u2018Oh, okay. I\u2019ll see you, you know, whenever you wanna see me. But I have work to do, so I\u2019ll see you later.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2017, Diamond toured the United States and Europe as part of his 50th Anniversary tour. But in 2018, he announced he was canceling the upcoming Australia and New Zealand leg of the tour, saying Parkinson\u2019s had made it too difficult to continue touring.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d Diamond said in a press release at the time.<\/p>\n
Diamond told CBS that it was \u201cvery hard\u201d to give up touring, and it has taken him a lot of time and work to fully accept his diagnosis and retirement. But the musician said \u201cin the last few weeks\u201d he\u2019s finally made peace with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomehow a calm has moved [into] the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cAnd I like it. I find that I like myself better. I\u2019m easier on people, I\u2019m easier on myself. And the beat goes on, and it will go on long after I\u2019m gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though Neil Diamond is retired from performing, he remains very popular with fans around the world. A biographical stage musical about his life, A Beautiful Noise, is currently playing on Broadway, and Diamond called it \u201cabsolutely wonderful\u201d and \u201ca dream come true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis show was part of my psychotherapy. And it hurt. I didn\u2019t like looking at myself in many of the scenes,\u201d he admitted to CBS.<\/p>\n
Fans who attended the premiere of that show last year got a very special surprise: Diamond himself performed \u201cSweet Caroline\u201d during the curtain call.<\/p>\n
And in June 2022, Diamond performed \u201cSweet Caroline\u201d at a Boston Red Sox game. The song is a nightly tradition at Fenway Park.<\/p>\n
Though Parkinson\u2019s has forced him to stop touring, it\u2019s clear that Neil Diamond can still sing and is still happy to give his all in rare appearances \u2014 and audiences love it.<\/p>\n
Parkinson\u2019s disease is a very challenging diagnosis, but we\u2019re happy to see that Neil Diamond has made peace with it.<\/p>\n