Neil Diamond opens up about his Parkinson’s diagnosis

Neil Diamond says it has been a course of accepting his 2018 Parkinson’s illness diagnosis.

The “Sweet Caroline” singer-songwriter, 82, mentioned his legendary profession and well being in a CBS Sunday Morning interview that can air this weekend. He admitted he was in denial the primary two years after studying he has the dysfunction of the central nervous system, which might trigger unintended or uncontrollable actions. The acceptance has solely simply began to come back.

“I’m still doing it,” he mentioned of coming to phrases with the diagnosis. “And I don’t like it. But … this is me; this is what I have to accept. And I’m willing to do it. And, OK, so this is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am. I am.”

Asked by Anthony Mason when the acceptance half began to come back about, Diamond mentioned it is “just been in the last few weeks.”

Since then, the long-lasting performer — a Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee — mentioned, “A calm has moved in, and the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio. And, I like it. I find that I like myself better. I’m easier on people. I’m easier on myself. And the beat goes on, and it will go on long after I’m gone.”

While Diamond introduced his quick retirement following the Parkinson’s diagnosis, he is made a number of appearances associated to the Broadway present about his life and music, A Beautiful Noise. On opening evening in December, NYC theatergoers had been handled to a “Sweet Caroline” singalong, which he led, at curtain name.

Asked the toughest a part of watching his life play out on the stage, he replied, “It was all pretty hard. I was a little embarrassed. I was flattered and I was scared.”

Of the worry, he defined, “Being found out is the scariest thing you can hope, because we all have a facade. And the truth be known to all of ’em. I’m not some big star. I’m just me.”

Diamond’s full interview will air Sunday at 9 a.m. ET on CBS and stream on Paramount+.