Carly Simon Recording New Album While Living With Parkinson's

When health challenges forced Carly Simon into quieter days, the music legend didn't retreat. She picked up her pen and started finishing songs she'd tucked away for years.

The 81-year-old "You're So Vain" singer shared in a heartfelt statement Monday that she's been learning to live with Parkinson's disease, a progressive brain disorder affecting over 1.1 million Americans. The diagnosis came after she struggled with mobility issues even after getting both knees and one hip replaced.

Parkinson's brought more than physical symptoms. Simon described days when exhaustion pins her down like "a starfish drying in the sun," when apathy makes even simple tasks feel impossible. Other days give her enough room to work, think, and feel like herself again.

During the same period, she also had surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma from her face. The procedure left her self-conscious about her appearance, adding emotional weight to an already difficult journey.

But here's where Simon's story takes a beautiful turn. Instead of letting illness define her days, she began working on Comes in Waves, her first album of all-new material since 2008. The 12-track collection features songs and fragments she'd been saving, some for years, waiting for the right moment to complete them.

"Music has always known when to arrive," Simon wrote. "It has rescued me more times than I can count."

Why This Inspires

Simon's willingness to share her struggle gives voice to something millions face but rarely discuss publicly. She's not painting Parkinson's with a cheerful brush or pretending the hard days don't exist. Instead, she's showing that illness can change your life without becoming all of it.

The album, recorded primarily at her Martha's Vineyard home, features her children Ben and Sally Taylor. Sally even painted the cover art. Creating together as a family became one way Simon kept moving forward when her body wanted to stop.

"I wanted to share this now because so many people have reached out with genuine concern," she said. "These days I move more slowly, I lean on others more than I once did, and I have learned to accept that every day will look a little different."

Simon thanked her medical team, family, and friends for helping her navigate the unpredictable nature of Parkinson's, which brings different challenges each day without consulting anyone's calendar first.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer closed her message with a simple promise to fans who've been wondering where she's been: "I am still very much here."

Comes in Waves arrives August 14, with the second single "Peaches" dropping this Friday.