Carly Simon has revealed she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and also underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma. In an emotional statement shared on July 27, the 83-year-old “You’re So Vain” singer opened up about her years away from the spotlight, explaining that she has been “learning how to live with Parkinson’s disease”.
“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,” Simon said in her statement. The problems began with arthritis in both knees and one hip, leading to joint replacement surgeries. When her mobility continued to worsen, she sought help at the Mayo Clinic, where she received her Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Simon spoke candidly about the emotional toll of the disease, particularly the 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”. Parkinson’s can bring anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and apathy, all of which she has had to navigate.
During the same period, Simon was treated for basal cell carcinoma on her face. The cancer was removed, but the surgery affected her appearance and made her more self-conscious about being seen in public. “I have always been more critical of my appearance than anyone else could possibly imagine (check out the irony of having written ‘You’re So Vain’),” she wrote.
Despite her health battles, Simon has “not stopped living, and I have not stopped working.” She has been recording a new album, Comes in Waves, her first collection of original music in 18 years, due out August 14. The 12-track record features contributions from her children and was written primarily at her Martha’s Vineyard studio.
“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,” she said.
