Carly Simon has revealed that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The You’re So Vain hitmaker has shared an update on her health, revealing that she has been living with both Parkinson’s disease and skin cancer.
In a statement obtained by People on Monday, Simon explained that after years away from the spotlight, she felt ready to speak publicly about her health struggles.
“So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing,” she wrote. “The truth is, I’ve been learning how to live with Parkinson’s disease.”
The 83-year-old singer-songwriter said it had taken time to come to terms with the diagnosis before deciding to share it publicly.
“It has taken me some time to understand the diagnosis, to adjust to it, and to decide how much I wanted to say about it publicly,” she penned. “Parkinson’s is different for everyone, and it can be unpredictable. Some days, I’m so tired I can’t get the day moving at all. On others, it gives me a little more room to move, think, work, and feel like myself.”
Simon also reflected on how her health issues first emerged, explaining that they began with “arthritis in both knees and one hip”. Although she underwent three joint replacements, her “mobility continued to worsen”.
“Eventually, there were periods when I could not walk without considerable help,” she continued. “My family and I knew that something more was going on. After an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.”
The singer also revealed that around the same time, she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, on her face.
“The cancer was removed, but the surgery affected my appearance and made me more self-conscious about being seen in public,” she shared.
The two-time Grammy winner admitted that, because of her health challenges, “withdrawing from public view was the most palatable reaction”.
However, Simon insisted she has “not stopped living” and is preparing to release her first album in 18 years, Comes in Waves.
“In the middle of all this, I began recording a new album, Comes in Waves,” she shared. “That still feels mysterious to me. Music has always known when to arrive. It has rescued me more times that I can count.”
Comes in Waves is due for release on 14 August.
