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Carly Simon is offering a deeply personal look at how her divorce from James Taylor affected their two children through a new song on her latest album.
The singer-songwriter's new record, Comes in Waves, was released Friday, Aug. 14, marking her first album of original music in 18 years. The 12-track project includes "Mother of Pearl," a heartfelt song written directly for her daughter, Sarah "Sally" Maria Taylor, now 52.
In the song, Simon reflects on Sally's childhood and the experience of growing up as the daughter of two famous musicians whose marriage eventually ended.
"Sally, oh, Sarah, another song with your name," Simon sings at the beginning of the track before describing her daughter through a series of personal memories and images.
Later, she addresses the impact of the family's breakup more directly, recalling Sally at age 7 and acknowledging the difficult position she and her brother, Ben, were placed in following their parents' divorce.
Simon and Taylor married in 1972 and welcomed Sally and their son Ben, now 49. The couple divorced in 1983. Taylor later married Caroline "Kim" Smedvig-Taylor, with whom he welcomed twin sons, Henry and Rufus.
Comes in Waves was largely written at Simon's studio on Martha's Vineyard and combines newly written material with older compositions that she revisited and completed. Her previous album of original songs, This Kind of Love, was released in 2008.
The new project arrives during a significant period in Simon's life. On July 27, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She also shared that she had undergone surgery to treat basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, while managing her Parkinson's diagnosis and treatment.
Simon has largely stayed away from the public spotlight in recent years. One of her most recent public appearances came in October 2019, when she visited SiriusXM Studios in New York City to promote her memoir, Touched by the Sun: My Friendship with Jackie. Her last public performance was in March 2018 at the Tibet House US Benefit Concert and Gala at Carnegie Hall.
Despite her limited public appearances, Simon has maintained a close relationship with her children, both of whom followed their parents into music.
Sally has also spoken warmly about her mother. In May 2024, she released a Mother's Day song called "The Star That You Are" and praised Simon for giving her room to develop her own identity despite growing up in the shadow of such a famous parent.
