Carly Simon Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis and Cancer Surgery

Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer Carly Simon, 81, revealed on Monday, July 27, that she has been living with Parkinson's disease and underwent surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma from her face — health challenges that explain the prolonged public silence that had concerned many of her fans.

"So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing. The truth is, I've been learning how to live with Parkinson's disease," Simon said in a statement shared with ABC News.

The Diagnosis

Simon, best known for her 1972 hit "You're So Vain," said the health problems began with arthritis in both knees and one hip, leading to three joint replacement surgeries. She initially assumed her worsening mobility was part of the recovery process, but when she found she could not walk without "considerable help" even after surgery, her family sought further evaluation.

"After an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's," she said. The diagnosis brought her to medication for stiffness and other movement symptoms. Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder, affects an estimated 1.1 million Americans, with nearly 90,000 new diagnoses each year. Common symptoms include tremors, stiffness, slowed movement and balance problems.

Cancer Surgery and Withdrawal

Separately, Simon was treated for basal cell carcinoma — a common and typically treatable form of skin cancer — on her face. She said the surgery affected her appearance and made her more reluctant to be seen in public. "Between my mobility issues, the Parkinson's diagnosis, the surgery, and the emotional effects of it all, withdrawing from public view was the most palatable reaction," she said.

Simon described Parkinson's apathy — a non-movement symptom — as particularly difficult: "It is not simply sadness or laziness. It is as though the part of the brain that sends out invitations to participate in life has temporarily misplaced the guest list."

New Album and Resilience

Despite the health challenges, Simon said she has continued working. A new album, "Comes in Waves," is scheduled for release on August 14. "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," she said.

Simon's career in music spans more than five decades. She has won two Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for her song "Let the River Run" from the 1988 film "Working Girl." She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

"I do not consider Parkinson's a gift or a blessing. It is neither. It is difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening," Simon said. "I am still learning how to live with it and how to accept it without feeling that I have surrendered something essential. These days I move more slowly, I lean on others more than I once did — but I am still very much here."