Neil Diamond revealed that it took him five years to accept his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
“I still do it. I don’t like it,” Diamond said. CBS Sunday Morning Reporter Anthony Mason in an interview that will be broadcast in full on Sunday, April 2. “But… that’s who I am; that’s what I have to accept. And I’m willing to do that. Well, that’s the hand God gave me, and I have to do my best, and I am.”
When asked when he came to the realization, Diamond said, “I think that’s been in the last few weeks.” The 82-year-old continued, “Somehow, the calm has moved on [into] A tornado of my life, and things are getting very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio. I love it too. I find that I love myself more. I am easier on people. I’m easier on myself. And the rhythm continues, and it will continue long after I’m gone.”
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Elsewhere in the interview, Diamond talks about adapting his life to the Broadway musical Nice noise, in which Will Swenson plays the legendary singer. Diamond explained that his biggest fear was “getting it figured out”. He added, “We all have a facade, and the truth is, everyone knows, I’m not a big star. I’m just me.”
Diamond retired from the road in 2018 in the midst of the 50th Anniversary Tour, per his doctor’s orders. However, he makes sporadic appearances to sing his signature song “Sweet Caroline” on Broadway or at Fenway Park.
Beautiful Noise: Neil Diamond Musical He is currently playing at New York’s Broadhurst Theatre. Find deals at StubHub, orders are 100% guaranteed with StubHub’s FanProtect Program. StubHub is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be above or below face value, depending on demand.
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