In a recent interview, the 82-year-old singer discussed ultimately embracing the sickness.
Diamond admitted that it took him some time to absorb his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
In a sense, he was in denial for the first year or two, Diamond said. He simply wasn’t ready to accept it when the doctor told him what it was. He replied, ”Oh, okay. I’ll see you, you know, whenever you want to see me. But I have work to do, so I’ll see you later.”
Diamond celebrated his 50th anniversary by touring the United States and Europe in 2017. However, in 2018, he declared the cancellation of the next Australia and New Zealand leg of the tour, citing Parkinson’s disease as making it impossible to continue performing.
He announced his retirement from concert touring with great reluctance and disappointment. He has been so honored to bring his shows to the public for the past 50 years, Diamond stated at the time in a press statement.
Diamond said that it was “very difficult” for him to stop touring, and that it took him a long time and effort to properly embrace his illness and retirement. However, the artist said that “in the last few weeks” he has at last made peace with it.
Somehow, a calm has moved into the hurricane of his life, and things have become as quiet as this recording studio, Diamond said. He enjoyed it. He is starting to like himself more and is being gentler with others and with himself. And the rhythm continues, and it will continue long after he is gone.
Neil Diamond is no longer performing, yet he is still immensely beloved with admirers all around the globe. A Beautiful Noise, a biographical stage musical based on his life, is presently performing on Broadway, and Diamond has described it as completely amazing and a dream come true.
This show was a component of his psychotherapy. It was also painful. She didn’t like seeing himself in a lot of the scenes.
Fans who saw the show’s debut last year were treated to a very special surprise: Diamond himself played “Sweet Caroline” at the curtain call.
Diamond will also sing “Sweet Caroline” during a Boston Red Sox game in June 2022. The song is played every night at Fenway Park.
Despite the fact that Parkinson’s disease has caused him to cease touring, it’s evident that Neil Diamond can still sing and is willing to give his all in rare performances—and crowds adore it.
Parkinson’s disease is a difficult diagnosis to accept, but we’re glad to see that Neil Diamond has come to terms with it.
