Carly Simon, the 83-year-old singer of "You're So Vain," has revealed she is living with Parkinson's disease and was previously diagnosed with a form of cancer. In a statement to People, Simon said she has been learning to live with Parkinson's and undergoing treatment for the condition. She also disclosed that she had basal cell carcinoma on her face, which was surgically removed but left her self-conscious about her appearance.
Simon opens up about her health struggles
Simon addressed her relative silence in recent years, explaining that she needed time to understand her Parkinson's diagnosis and decide how much to share publicly. "Parkinson's is different for everyone, and it can be unpredictable," she said. "Some days I'm so tired I can't get the day moving at all. On others, it gives me a little more room to move, think, work, and feel like myself."
She first noticed symptoms after undergoing joint replacement surgeries for arthritis in her knees and hip. Despite the surgeries, her mobility worsened, and she eventually had trouble walking without help. After an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Cancer diagnosis and impact on self-image
Around the same time, Simon learned she had basal cell carcinoma on her face. While the cancer was removed, the surgery affected her appearance and made her more self-conscious. "I have always been more critical of my appearance than anyone else could possibly imagine," she said, noting that her health battles gave her inner critic new material. Simon had previously battled breast cancer in 1997.
New music on the way
Despite her health challenges, Simon vowed to keep living and working. She announced a new album titled Comes in Waves, set for release on August 14. It will be her first record in almost 20 years, following 2008's This Kind of Love. "I have not stopped living, and I have not stopped working," she said. The album includes songs and fragments that had been waiting for her, some for years.
