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Carly Simon is opening up about the health battles that kept her out of the spotlight — and announcing her return to music.
The You're So Vain singer, 83, revealed she has Parkinson's disease and also underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma on her face. In a statement released July 27, Simon explained that the combination of mobility issues, treatment, and self-consciousness about her appearance led her to withdraw from public view.
"I've been learning how to live with Parkinson's disease," she said. "But I have not stopped living, and I have not stopped working."
Simon described how her symptoms worsened after multiple joint replacement surgeries, eventually leaving her unable to walk without help. An evaluation at the Mayo Clinic confirmed the Parkinson's diagnosis.
She said the illness brings not only tremors and stiffness but also exhaustion, anxiety, and apathy. "It is not simply sadness or laziness," she explained. "It is as though the part of the brain that sends out invitations to participate in life has temporarily misplaced the guest list."
At the same time, Simon was treated for skin cancer. Though the carcinoma was removed, the surgery affected her appearance and made her reluctant to be seen in public. "I have always been more critical of my appearance than anyone else could possibly imagine," she admitted.
Despite the challenges, Simon found solace in music. She began recording Comes in Waves, her first album of original songs in 18 years, set for release August 14. "Working on the music gave shape to days that did not always have much shape," she said. "It reminded me that illness can change your life without becoming the whole of your life."
Simon emphasized that she does not view Parkinson's as a blessing, but she is learning to live with it. "I am still writing, singing, imagining, laughing, worrying, remembering, and occasionally getting trapped in an overstuffed chair," she said. She credited her children, family, friends, caregivers, and medical professionals for carrying her through difficult days.
"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," Simon concluded. "But I am still very much here."
