Simon's Health & New Music
Carly Simon Reveals Parkinson's Disease and Skin Cancer, Continues Creative Work with New Album
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Key Points
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Simon describes Parkinson’s‑related apathy with a striking metaphor, saying it can feel like being a 'starfish drying in the sun'—underscoring that it's a symptom, not laziness.
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She underwent three joint replacement surgeries (knees and hip) with metal and plastic prostheses, yet mobility problems persisted, including difficulty standing up from low chairs.
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After an extensive Mayo Clinic evaluation, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, illustrating the diagnostic path behind the public reveal.
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She references the irony of writing 'You’re So Vain' while noting that her own appearance and self-criticism intensified after skin-cancer surgery, highlighting the personal impact on public visibility.
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Rolling Stone reports Comes in Waves features production by Paul Samwell-Smith, was recorded at her Martha’s Vineyard home, involves her children Ben and Sally Taylor, and includes the lead single 'Howl' being released.
Carly Simon, 83, has revealed she has Parkinson's disease and recently treated skin cancer, breaking a long public silence about her health. The legendary singer shared her diagnosis in a letter to fans, explaining the fatigue, limited mobility, and emotional weight that have shaped her life in recent years, according to People and ABC News.
Despite the diagnoses, Simon says she has not stopped creating. Her first new album in nearly 20 years, Comes in Waves, is finished and on its way, Rolling Stone reports.
Mayo Clinic Diagnosis Followed Years of Worsening Mobility
Simon's path to a Parkinson's diagnosis was long and difficult. She had already undergone three joint replacement surgeries — both knees and a hip — replacing worn joints with metal and plastic prostheses, according to USA Today. Even after those operations, she still struggled to stand up from low chairs or move freely.
An extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic finally gave her an answer. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative condition that can cause tremors, stiffness, slowness, and falls. It can also trigger anxiety, depression, and sleep problems, USA Today noted. Simon said the diagnosis helped explain what she had been living through.
Skin Cancer Surgery Hit Her Confidence and Public Presence
Simon also disclosed that she was treated for basal cell carcinoma — a common but serious form of skin cancer — on her face. The surgery left marks that affected how she looked in public. She said it intensified her self-criticism and made her less willing to appear in front of cameras or crowds, according to Today.
Simon noted the personal irony with a wry edge. She is the woman who wrote "You're So Vain" — a song about vanity and ego — yet found herself deeply shaken by changes to her own appearance. The surgery, she said, played a real role in her withdrawal from public life.
Parkinson's Apathy Feels Like a 'Starfish Drying in the Sun'
Simon was careful to explain that Parkinson's affects more than the body. She described a crushing apathy — a feeling she compared to being a "starfish drying in the sun." She stressed that this is a medical symptom of the disease, not laziness or a lack of will, according to Far Out Magazine.
She said some days bring only brief windows of energy and clear thinking before fatigue sets back in. The disease also fuels anxiety and depression, layering emotional challenges on top of the physical ones. Simon said she chose to go public after a long private period, hoping to help others understand what Parkinson's really looks like, Daily Star reported.
New Album Comes in Waves Recorded at Martha's Vineyard Home
Through it all, Simon kept making music. Comes in Waves was recorded largely at her longtime home on Martha's Vineyard. Her children Ben and Sally Taylor were involved in making it. The album was produced by Paul Samwell-Smith, and the lead single "Howl" is set for release, according to Rolling Stone.
The album marks her first new studio work in nearly 20 years. Simon said the creative process gave her purpose during her most difficult stretches. It stands as a direct answer to the apathy and withdrawal her illness brought on — proof, she says, that she is still here and still working, ABC News reported.
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