• Carly Simon reveals her diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
• The singer also underwent treatment for basal cell carcinoma.
• Simon experiences various symptoms of Parkinson's, including anxiety and apathy.
• She continues to work on a new album, "Comes in Waves," set for release in August 2026.
• Simon expresses gratitude for the support from family and friends during her health struggles.

Carly Simon, the renowned singer-songwriter, has publicly shared her diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, stating that she is "learning how to live" with this challenging condition. In her announcement, the 83-year-old reflected on how the illness affects her daily life, remarking on its unpredictable nature. She explained, "There is no tidy or predictable schedule to the illness... it does not consult my calendar before deciding what kind of day I am going to have," according to BBC and CBS News.

In her lengthy statement, Simon detailed her health challenges, emphasizing that her mobility declined significantly before the Parkinson's diagnosis. "Eventually, there were periods when I could not walk without considerable help," she stated, noting her underlying issues with arthritis that preceded her condition. After extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, her diagnosis confirmed the suspicions of her family, as reported by Los Angeles Times and BBC.

Alongside her Parkinson's diagnosis, Simon is also recovering from treatment for basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. The impact of her recent surgery on her appearance has intensified her self-consciousness, further prompting her withdrawal from public life. "This gave my inner critic quite a lot of new material," she remarked, referencing her ongoing struggles with self-image, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

Despite these challenges, Simon remains dedicated to her music career and is set to release a new album titled "Comes in Waves" in August 2026, which she describes as a creative lifeline amid her struggles with health. In her announcement, she expressed how working on the music provides structure and purpose, saying, "It gave me somewhere to go without having to leave the room," as cited in CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

Simon candidly articulated the toll Parkinson's takes on mental health, mentioning experiences of anxiety, depression, and apathy. "You can find yourself lying there like a starfish drying in the sun, arms pointing in all directions, while nothing inside is telling you to get up," she explained. Her openness about the emotional chaos resulting from her condition underscores the multifaceted challenges faced by those living with Parkinson's, according to BBC and Los Angeles Times.