Neil Diamond comes out of retirement for surprise performance of ‘Sweet Caroline’ amid Parkinson’s battle
Neil Diamond made a surprise appearance at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on July 12th to perform an impromptu rendition of his hit song, ‘Sweet Caroline’.
Diamond was in attendance at the iconic theatre to witness his life’s work be turned into the musical, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. The musical stars Nick Fradiani, who has previously won an edition of American Idol.
Following the evening, Fradiani shared an image of himself with Diamond backstage along with the heartfelt caption, “I built up this day in my head for over 2 years. The day where Neil Diamond himself would see this show. It sounds cliché, but I don’t have the exact words to describe how it felt portraying a music icon as he sat and watched from an audience.”
Fradiani continued: “But mostly I felt honored and fulfilled. He’s a great man, a great musician, and he’s changed so many of our lives. I was able to tell him how much he’s changed mine. Thank you for letting me share your songs and story across the country every night my friend.”
Hollywood Pantages Theatre shared footage of the heartwarming moment of his appearance on July 12th on Instagram, showing Diamond enjoying every second of his comeback.
Diamond, who is 84, retired from touring in 2018 due to his Parkinson’s diagnosis, and since then, he has largely remained out of the public eye.
He has occasionally appeared in public settings, such as at a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park in 2022. Notably, ‘Sweet Caroline’ is a song synonymous with the MLB outfit. He also appeared at the opening night of the musical at Broadway in December 2022.
In an honest interview with CBS Sunday Morning in 2023, he openly said of his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s, “This is what I have to accept. And I’m willing to do it. This is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am. I am.”
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