The iconic artist Neil Diamond, who is best known for songs like “Sweet Caroline,” had a difficult period in his career after receiving a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2018. In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the 82-year-old artist talked about his process of accepting the diagnosis.
When Diamond first learned of his disease, he battled denial and ignored the truth for the first year or two. He carried on with his 50th-anniversary tour in 2017 despite receiving the diagnosis, but the mounting challenges brought on by Parkinson’s forced him to postpone the Australia and New Zealand leg in 2018.
Diamond made the difficult decision to stop performing in concerts, and it took him some time to come to terms with the diagnosis and his retirement.
But he did admit in the most recent interview that he has been finding peace and acceptance over the past several weeks.
Diamond talked about how his attitude changed and how he started to feel more comfortable with people. He compared the calm of a recording studio to the silence he experienced as a result of Parkinson’s disease.
Neil Diamond’s ability to maintain his composure and perform live even in the face of Parkinson’s disease is evidence of his tenacity and long-lasting relationship with his fans.