Neil Diamond says he has finally come to grips with having Parkinson’s disease.
Neil appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, and said he finally “accepted” his diagnosis "in the last few weeks... Somehow, a calm has moved in and [in] the hurricane of my life… Things have gotten very quiet… 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.”
Neil said while he obviously doesn’t “like” it, he added, "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.”
Diamond was also asked about the Broadway musical based on his life, A Beautiful Noise. He replied, “It was all pretty hard. I was a little embarrassed. I was flattered and I was scared [to see the show]...”
He added, “Being found out is the scariest thing you can hope, because we all have a façade. And the truth be known to all of ‘em: I’m not some big star. I’m just me.”
Diamond (age 82) stopped touring in 2018 because of his diagnosis.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]