Carly Simon Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis: “I Have Not Stopped Living
Legendary singer-songwriter Carly Simon has announced a Parkinson's disease diagnosis as she prepares to release her first album in nearly two decades.
Carly Simon, the Grammy-winning singer and songwriter, has publicly revealed her diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, emphasizing her determination to continue living and working despite the challenges. The 83-year-old artist, known for her 1970s hit “You’re So Vain,” shared the news in a statement released on July 27, 2026, explaining that she has been navigating the progressive neurological disorder while preparing to release her first album in 18 years, *Comes in Waves*.
Simon’s health struggles began with arthritis in her knees and hip, which led to multiple joint replacement surgeries. However, her mobility continued to decline, prompting an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, where she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The disease, which affects movement and can cause symptoms such as stiffness, tremors, and balance issues, also brought non-movement challenges like anxiety, depression, and apathy. “It is not simply sadness or laziness,” Simon said. “It is as though the part of the brain that sends out invitations to participate in life has temporarily misplaced the guest list.”
Simon also disclosed that she was treated for basal cell carcinoma on her face during the same period. The surgery altered her appearance, adding to her self-consciousness about public visibility. “Between my mobility issues, the Parkinson’s diagnosis, the surgery, and the emotional effects of it all, withdrawing from public view was the most palatable reaction,” she said. Despite this, she has not abandoned her creative pursuits. “I have not stopped living, and I have not stopped working,” she insisted, noting that recording *Comes in Waves* provided structure and solace during uncertain days.
The album, set for release on August 14, includes songs and fragments of songs that had been “waiting for me, some for years.” Simon described the creative process as “mysterious,” likening music to “a cat or dog that quietly appears beside you when it senses you are not quite yourself.” She emphasized that illness, while transformative, does not define her life. “Illness can change your life without becoming the whole of your life,” she said. “I do not consider Parkinson’s a gift or a blessing. It is neither. It is difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening.”
Simon’s statement also highlighted the unpredictability of Parkinson’s. “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,” she wrote. She acknowledged the support of her family, friends, caregivers, and medical professionals, whom she credited with helping her navigate the diagnosis. “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. But I am still very much here.”
Simon’s decision to share her diagnosis comes after years of relative seclusion, during which she faced both health and personal hurdles. Her absence from public events, including her 2022 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has been attributed to these challenges. Yet, she remains resolute. “Music has rescued me more times that I can count,” she said. “It is like a cat or dog that quietly appears beside you when it senses you are not quite yourself.”
As *Comes in Waves* approaches its release, Simon’s message of perseverance resonates beyond her personal journey. “I am still writing, singing, imagining, laughing, worrying, remembering, and occasionally getting trapped in an overstuffed chair,” she wrote. “I am deeply grateful to my children, my family, my friends, my caregivers, and the medical professionals who have helped me through this.”
