Carly Simon opens up on Parkinson’s diagnosis and new album

Singer-songwriter Carly Simon, 83, has disclosed that she has Parkinson's disease, describing it as a "sometimes frightening" condition she is "learning how to live" with while continuing to work. In a statement to the BBC, she explained that what first appeared to be arthritis in her knees and hip gradually worsened into serious mobility problems that persisted even after three joint replacement surgeries, eventually leaving her unable to walk without considerable help, which prompted an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic that confirmed the diagnosis. The disclosure matters both because Simon remains one of the best-known singer-songwriters of the 1970s, famed for hits such as You're So Vain, and because it draws attention to a condition affecting around 153,000 people in the UK, described as the world's fastest-growing neurological disorder.

Simon said the illness's progress is "unpredictable", leaving her some days too tired to function and others more able to "move, think, work, and feel like myself". She also revealed she had recently undergone surgery to remove a cancerous growth from her face, which left her more self-conscious in public, and spoke candidly about accompanying bouts of anxiety, depression and apathy. She said she chose to speak out after receiving letters from concerned fans asking about her wellbeing and recent quietness. Despite her health struggles, Simon has continued working and is releasing a new album, Comes In Waves, in August 2026, with lead single Howl already out, exploring themes of love, memory, family and forgiveness.