Carly Simon has disclosed her diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a revelation shared on Monday. The 83-year-old renowned for songs like “You’re So Vain” and “Nobody Does It Better,” had long attributed her mobility issues to arthritis and operations for joint replacements. Simon had both knees and one hip replaced but saw no improvement in her movement.
Simon recounted how her difficulties in walking sparked a deeper investigation into her health. After thorough examination at the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s was identified as the cause.
Simon explained, “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 noted that Parkinson’s varies greatly from person to person and described the formidable fatigue she experiences.
“Some days I’m so tired I can’t get the day moving at all,” she stated, adding on other days she feels more like herself. She has started treatment, focusing on medication to relieve stiffness and other symptoms.
“There is no tidy or predictable schedule to the illness,” Simon added, highlighting Parkinson’s unpredictability. The Parkinson’s Foundation estimates about 1 million Americans live with the disease, which disrupts movement due to deteriorating dopamine-producing cells.
Simon also mentioned a recent battle with basal cell carcinoma, a common skin cancer, which was excised from her face but altered her appearance, resulting in a retreat from public life.
Despite these challenges, Simon finds solace in music. Her new album, Comes in Waves, releasing on August 14, marks her return to original songwriting since 2008. “Illness can change your life without becoming the whole of your life,” she asserted.
Updates to follow.