Carly Simon revealed in a detailed letter on Monday that health issues prompted her recent decision to step back from public appearances.
Carly Simon, the 83-year-old singer of the hit song “You’re So Vain” and a two-time Grammy winner, has announced she has Parkinson’s disease. She’s been quietly dealing with the diagnosis and learning how to manage it. Simon decided to share the news because many fans noticed her absence from public life and wrote to inquire about her well-being. She hasn’t said when she received the diagnosis.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement and currently has no cure. A common symptom is tremors, and actor Michael J. Fox is a well-known example of someone living with the condition, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Before her diagnosis, Simon suffered from arthritis in both knees and one hip. She underwent surgery to replace those three joints with artificial ones – as she described it, swapping out the old for “delicate bouquets of metal and plastic.” Unfortunately, her mobility actually worsened after the surgeries, making it difficult to walk and get up from couches or low chairs.
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Looking back, there were times when I really struggled to walk, needing a lot of assistance just to get around. It became clear to my family and me that this wasn’t just a normal thing, something deeper was happening.
After visiting the Mayo Clinic, she received a Parkinson’s diagnosis and began treatment, including medication, to manage her symptoms.
“There is no tidy predictable schedule to the illness,” she said.
Simon described how Parkinson’s disease caused her significant emotional and physical struggles, including anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and a lack of motivation. She vividly recalled feeling completely drained – like a starfish – with no desire to even perform simple activities like reading, watching TV, or connecting with others.
Simon shared that she had surgery for skin cancer – specifically, basal cell carcinoma on her face – around the same time. This followed the loss of both of her sisters to cancer within days of each other in 2022. She admitted feeling insecure about how she looked after the surgery, which led her to withdraw from public life. She explained that this experience fueled her self-doubt and negative self-talk.
Music
Carly Simon is grieving the loss of her two sisters, Joanna and Lucy, who recently passed away after battling cancer.
The singer described herself as a bear that hibernates but remains active, explaining she’s continued to live and work despite her health challenges. She then announced her new album, “Comes in Waves,” which is her first collection of original songs since 2008. The album will be released on August 14th, with the single “Peaches” dropping this Friday.
She observed that music consistently appears at just the right moment, and it’s saved her through countless difficult times.
She explained that focusing on music helped her structure her days when she was feeling lost. It provided a sense of purpose and escape, even while confined by illness. More importantly, it helped her remember that even though being sick had changed her life, it didn’t have to define it.
I recently spoke with Simon, who’s been incredibly open about her journey with Parkinson’s. She described it as tough – filled with frustration and moments of real fear – but she’s determined not to let it define her. What really struck me was her gratitude. She spoke so warmly about the amazing support she’s received from her friends, family, the people who care for her, and her medical team – they’ve clearly made a huge difference.
She admitted she’s slowed down and relies on others more now, and understands that each day brings new challenges. But she emphasized that she’s still actively living and engaged with life.
2026-07-27 21:31