Singer Carly Simon has revealed she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and is learning to live with the progressive neurological disorder.
The 81-year-old artist shared her health journey in a statement to ABC News as she prepares to release her new album, "Comes in Waves," on August 14, 2026.
Simon explained her initial silence about the diagnosis and the unpredictable nature of Parkinson's.
"So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing.
The truth is, I've been learning how to live with Parkinson's disease," she said.
"It has taken me some time to understand the diagnosis, to adjust to it, and to decide how much I wanted to say about it publicly," she added.
Simon described the unpredictability of the illness: "Parkinson's is different for everyone, and it can be unpredictable.
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."
Her health issues began with arthritis in both knees and one hip, leading to three joint replacement surgeries.
Despite this, her mobility worsened, eventually requiring considerable assistance to walk.
After an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, Simon was officially diagnosed with Parkinson's. She began treatment including medication to address stiffness and other symptoms.
Simon also revealed she was treated for basal cell carcinoma on her face during this time. The surgery affected her appearance and increased her self-consciousness about public appearances.
Despite these challenges, Simon continued to work on music.
Her new album "Comes in Waves" features songs written over several years and gives structure to days affected by her illness.
"Working on the music gave shape to days that did not always have much shape. It gave me somewhere to go without having to leave the room.
It reminded me that illness can change your life without becoming the whole of your life," Simon said.
Simon addressed the emotional impact of Parkinson's, particularly the apathy it causes, which she described as distinct from sadness or laziness.
"The apathy is particularly strange.
You can find yourself lying there like a starfish drying in the sun, arms pointing in all directions, while nothing inside is telling you to get up, read, watch, write, sing, call someone, or do much of anything at all.
That has been one of the hardest things to explain," she said.
She emphasized that Parkinson's is difficult and frustrating but does not define her. "I do not consider Parkinson's a gift or a blessing.
It is neither. It is difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening," Simon said.
She concluded by thanking her family, friends, caregivers, and medical professionals for their support and affirmed that she is still very much present despite moving more slowly and leaning on others more than before.
"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 said.
Parkinson's disease affects an estimated 1.1 million Americans and is characterized by tremors, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance issues.
It can also cause non-movement symptoms such as depression and cognitive changes, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.
