Neil Diamond Accepts His Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis After Being In Denial For Years

Apr 10, 2023

Neil Diamond has finally come to terms with his Parkinson's disease diagnosis. In an exclusive interview, the famous musician behind the song "Sweet Caroline" admitted that he was in denial "for the first year or two" and could not accept what doctors told him in January 2018.

Speaking with CBS Sunday Morning, Diamond said it was hard to give up performing in front of an audience after he learned of his condition. He was not prepared to accept what his future could be. 

Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system, may present symptoms like slow movement, tremors and rigidity of the hands and legs, and difficulty in walking due to the death of nerve cells. In its advanced stages, Parkinson's may lead to sleep issues and problems with the body's sensory systems, according to the National Insititute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. In the US, about 500,000 individuals struggle with the condition. There is no cure for Parkinson's, but there are treatments that help manage the symptoms, including surgery.

A writer at heart, Diamond made poems for his male friends to woo the girls. As a pre-med major at New York University in the 1960s, Diamond cut classes to sell his poems as song lyrics to music publishers. Shortly before graduating, he got a job at Sunbeam Music Publishing and left college. 

After his stint with Sunbeam, Diamond and Jack Packer, a friend from high school, had their first recording contract. Despite positive reviews from Billboard and Cashbox, their singles were not successful. Diamond decided to become a solo performer and signed with Columbia Records, but his songs also failed to become chartbusters until he moved to Los Angeles and came up with "Sweet Caroline," his first hit. 

"Sweet Caroline" became an anthem in sports games, especially in Boston, Massachusetts, after an employee, who took charge of the music at the Fenway Park stadium during Red Sox matches, played the song for a friend who gave birth to a baby girl named Caroline. A Red Sox executive wanted the song played regularly for its "transformative powers."  

In 2013, Diamond was at Fenway Park to sing the song live to cheer up the locals after the Boston Marathon bombings. In the midst of dealing with Parkinson’s in 2020, Diamond came out of retirement and sang his hit song at a special concert to uplift the Colorado firefighters.

The Grammy-winning musician said on CBS Sunday Morning that he didn't like having Parkinson's disease but knew he had to accept his condition. 

“When the doctor told me what it was, I was just not ready to accept it," the singer said, adding that acceptance remains a challenging process for him. 

"Well, I can't really fight this thing, so I had to accept it, this Parkinson's Disease. There's no cure. There's no getting away from it," he said. "But I've come to accept what limitations I have, and still have great days.”

One of those great days is "A Beautiful Noise," the Broadway show based on the musician's life and work. Diamond said that the musical is his psychotherapy, and he was present during the opening night in December 2022 to lead a singalong of "Sweet Caroline" with the audience. 

Diamond said that after having acceptance, a sense of calm finally washed over him. 

"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."

Half the battle against a progressive disease affects one's mental health, and Neil Diamond's struggles are common for many patients. What can you say about his outlook today? Do you know someone who can relate to what he's going through? Pass this story along to your friends or family!