Carly Simon, the celebrated singer and songwriter, has revealed she has Parkinson’s disease. She also recently underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor.
The singer, famous for songs like ‘You’re So Vain’, told BBC News she’s adjusting to a health issue she describes as ‘sometimes frightening’.
Some days I’m completely exhausted and can’t seem to get anything done. Other days, I have more energy to think, work, and just be myself. But even on the hard days, I’m still living and still working hard.
She described a feeling of complete listlessness, like a starfish stranded in the sun, where you just lie there with no desire to do anything – not even simple things like reading, watching a show, or reaching out to someone.
It’s been incredibly difficult to describe this feeling. It’s more than just being sad or lacking motivation. Imagine the part of your brain that usually makes you want to engage with the world has lost track of what things – and people – would normally make you feel interested.
The singer, famous for performing the James Bond theme song ‘Nobody Does It Better’ from The Spy Who Loved Me, recently revealed she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth on her face. She is a cancer survivor, having been treated for breast cancer in the late 1990s.
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So, I’ve been kinda quiet lately, and a lot of people were checking in on me, which was really sweet. After some time passed, I decided to finally share what’s been going on – my diagnosis. It just felt like the right time to explain where I’d been.
Carly Simon began her music career in 1963 and has had 13 hit singles in the US Top 40. Her most famous song, ‘You’re So Vain,’ topped the charts in 1973, and ‘Nobody Does It Better’ came in a close second at #2 in 1977. She’s also earned Platinum certification for three of her albums.
Carly Simon achieved an impressive feat by winning a Grammy, Oscar, and Golden Globe for her song ‘Let the River Run,’ featured in the 1988 film Working Girl. She was the first artist to accomplish this triple win for a song she not only wrote and composed but also sang herself.
The singer-songwriter is getting ready to release her 24th studio album, Comes in Waves, next month. This marks her first collection of original songs in 17 years, and the lead single, ‘Howl,’ came out in June.
If you want to learn more about this, or if you need someone to talk to, I found a really helpful resource – the Parkinson’s UK website. You can also give their helpline a call at 0808 800 0303. They seem like they have a lot of good information and support available.
For further information and support regarding cancer or its treatment, please click here for help from Macmillan Cancer Support, or click here to find out more from Stand Up to Cancer.
2026-07-27 18:19