Carly Simon reveals Parkinson's diagnosis, opens up about why she stepped away from public life

WASHINGTON, DC: Grammy-winning singer Carly Simon has revealed that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, ending months of speculation about her absence from public life with an emotional account of her health journey.

In a statement released on Sunday, July 27, the 83-year-old singer said she had taken time to come to terms with the diagnosis before speaking publicly.

"So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence," Simon said. "The truth is, I've been learning how to live with Parkinson's disease."

She described the condition as unpredictable, saying some days leave her too exhausted to begin ordinary tasks, while others allow her to move, think and work with greater ease.

Health struggles led to Mayo Clinic diagnosis

Simon said her health problems initially appeared to stem from arthritis in her knees and hip, prompting joint replacement surgeries. However, when her mobility continued to worsen, she and her family realized something more serious was affecting her.

After undergoing an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, Simon was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

She said medication has helped manage movement-related symptoms, but the disease has also brought less visible challenges, including anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and apathy.

"It is not simply sadness or laziness," Simon said, describing the emotional impact of Parkinson's. "It is as though the part of the brain that sends out invitations to participate in life has temporarily misplaced the guest list."

Why Carly Simon disappeared from the spotlight

The singer also revealed she underwent surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma from her face. Although the cancer was successfully removed, she said the procedure affected her appearance and left her self-conscious about being seen in public.

Combined with Parkinson's, mobility issues, and the emotional strain of her health battles, the surgery contributed to her decision to withdraw from public life.

Despite those challenges, Simon said she never stopped making music.

She has been recording a new album, 'Comes in Waves', which she described as a source of comfort during difficult days.

"Working on the music gave shape to days that did not always have much shape," she said. "It reminded me that illness can change your life without becoming the whole of your life."

Carly Simon says she is 'still very much here'

Simon acknowledged that Parkinson's has changed nearly every aspect of her daily life but said she refuses to let the disease define her.

"I do not consider Parkinson's a gift or a blessing. It is neither," she said. "It is difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening."

Thanking her family, friends and supporters, Simon ended her statement with a message of resilience.

"These days I move more slowly, I lean on others more than I once did, and I have learned to accept that every day will look a little different," she said. "But I am still very much here."