Neil Diamond, 82, is a living legend. There’s a Broadway musical about his life, A Beautiful Noise, starring Will Swenson and Marc Jacoby as young and old Diamond, which Diamond was able to see. He thrilled theatergoers with a rousing rendition of Sweet Caroline at the opening this December. You can see that here!
Diamond told the show’s producers to show him “warts and all” through his two divorces and struggles, but it was hard for him to see his life story on stage. He told CBS Sunday Morning’s Anthony Mason that it was tough to watch A Beautiful Noise and called it like therapy. He has countless hits and has been performing for decades. Diamond stopped touring in 2018 after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. On CBS, he talked about the disease for the first time. He said it was hard for him to accept and that it’s only been in the last few weeks that he’s come to terms with it. He also said he can still sing, that he’s been “doing it for the past 50 years and I enjoy it.” It sure shows. Here’s People’s writeup on that interview.
Neil Diamond is coming to terms with having Parkinson’s disease.
In an interview set to air on CBS Sunday Morning… the “Hello Again” singer, 82, shares that it has only been “in the last few weeks” that he has accepted his diagnosis, which he first made public in 2018.
“But somehow, a calm has moved in, and the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio,” he tells reporter Anthony Mason. “And, I like it. I find that I like myself better. I’m easier on people. I’m easier on myself. And the beat goes on, and it will go on long after I’m gone.”
The singer retired from touring five years ago, but that hasn’t stopped him from reaching out to his devoted fans.
“I’m still doing it. And I don’t like it. But the … this is me; this is what I have to accept,” he says in the interview. “And I’m willing to do it. And, OK, so this is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am. I am…”
During the interview on Sunday, Mason asks the star what was most difficult about watching his younger self depicted on stage.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“It was all pretty hard,” Diamond says. “I was a little embarrassed. I was flattered and I was scared.”
“What were you scared of?” Mason asks.
“Being found out is the scariest thing you can hope, because we all have a façade. And the truth be known to all of ’em. I’m not some big star. I’m just me,” Diamond says.
My dear departed father-in-law had Parkinson’s. He was also a hardworking, somewhat hard-headed man who continued to do things he was no longer physically equipped to, if that makes sense. I came away from this interview with so much respect and gratitude for Diamond. He dedicated his life to entertaining us and we’re lucky he gave us so many banging songs and performances. I hope Diamond has the best doctors and you know he has his friends and family there to support him. I’m happy he’s getting his flowers now.
My parents used to play Neil Diamond records for us when we were growing up all the time, so I’ve been a fan since I was at least seven years old.
Sadly, my dad had Parkinson’s. This progressive neurological disease is brutal. My hope is that someone will invent an IV or injectable form for Parkinson’s meds, since swallow function is usually compromised.
Wishing all the best for him and his family.
Another fan from the cradle here. “Forever in Blue Jeans” is a fave of mine.
Same here, I love Neil. I got to see him in concert in Ottawa in 2002; I cried when he came out on stage lol.
I have an uncle who had Parkinsons, such a horrible disease.
I wish there was a cure for this. I am praying for him and his loved ones. I have no words…
Parkinson’s took my Dad. It is such a horrible, frustrating disease. May Neil continue to hold his own against it.
As for the play, it’s much better than most jukebox musicals due to the framing of the story and Marc Jacoby’s strong performance as the elder Diamond analyzing the mistakes he made and the path he faces with the disease. The second act is all glittery and shiny 1970s production numbers and Will Swenson is an amazing powerful force. They do justice to Neil. And all 3 wives are portrayed sympathetically
Good to know. I’ll need to look into a trip to the city so that I can see this, among other things.
I have loved Neil Diamond as long as I can remember. His voice is unmistakable. I have seen him perform live twice, and he puts on a hell of a show.
Bless him and his journey.
I was raised on Neil! My mother had such a crush on him; I was embarrassed by her fervor when I was younger. Some years after she died, my husband took me to see him live in concert and it was truly one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Bless him.
His music is part of the soundtrack of my life. I still remember, on my first trip to NYC for the marathon, as we ran through Brooklyn along a street of row houses, Neil Diamond’s Brooklyn Roads ran through my head (granted, it ran through my head as ‘Brooklyn Rows’, which I thought referred to those row houses…sigh). Thank you for the article & thank you for providing the link to the CBS Sunday Morning show. I teared up, but dang–he’s sounding & looking a lot better than I assumed he would, maybe because he still has the ability to sing.
The Jazz Singer is still one of my all time fave movies. Heartbreaking about the Parkinson’s.
🎼 Sweet Caroline…. 🎵 ❤️