Neil Diamond Was Forced To Stop Performing But Returned To The Stage For One Special Reason

Since first making it big, Diamond has, of course, been one of music’s most enduring stars. In the intervening years, the singer has seen ten singles reach the top of the charts, won a Grammy in 1973, and sold over 130 million records. Everyone from Johnny Cash to Elvis Presley has also covered his songs. But one piece has dominated above all others.

Through it all, “Sweet Caroline” has proved to be Diamond’s most remarkable success and a song that’s carved a unique legacy in popular music. The single became a linchpin of Boston Red Sox games following its first play at Fenway Park in 1997. It became so iconic that, after the 2013 Boston Marathon terror attack, Diamond donated its profits to aid the tragedy’s victims. But after a five-decade career, Diamond decided to call it quits in 2018.

The year 2018 would have seen the star embark on a tour of Australia to celebrate his career's 50th anniversary. However, fate would deal a harsh blow to both Diamond and his millions of fans. On January 22 — just two days before his 77th birthday —the singer announced news that caught his fans entirely off guard. But the message on Diamond's website turned their disappointment into heartbreak.

According to the statement, Neil had been diagnosed with Parkinson's, a neurological disorder gradually deteriorating motor function. The stress of touring and performing would only exacerbate his symptoms, and so, following his doctor's orders, the 77-year-old announced he'd be leaving the stage for good.

As a result, the famed singer had no choice but to pull out of touring. “The onset of the disease has made it difficult to travel and perform on a large-scale basis,” read a press release on the singer’s website. Nevertheless, the statement assured fans, "Mr. Diamond [will] continue his writing, recording, and development of new projects.”

“I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years,” Diamond added to the site. And using a line from his most beloved song, the singer affirmed how much he appreciated his audience’s love and support. “The ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good,’ thanks to you,” he concluded.

But the news wasn't all bad, as Diamond assured his fans that his retirement from live performances in no way meant he'd be retiring from music. He vowed to focus the time and energy he usually would've spent touring on writing and recording new jams. Fans would not be left out of pocket, either — and some put their returned money to good use.

Fans who purchased tickets for Diamond's final performances were all refunded. But instead of pocketing the cash, some used the money to give back to charitable causes. They donated their money to Parkinson's research, animal charities, and firefighter charities. Some did so in Diamond's name, too, and he later thanked them on social media.

Though his touring days are behind him, that still hasn't stopped Diamond from making the occasional live appearance. But he seemingly will only return to the stage for very special reasons. In July 2018 — just six months after his diagnosis — he paid a surprise visit to Basalt, Colorado, to perform for local firefighters as thanks for containing the Lake Christine Fire.

Diamond didn't entirely shy away from the public eye, either. Most notably, he stepped out to receive a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award during the summer of 2018. And even when the singer tried to take it easy alongside his wife, Kate McNeil, at his Colorado home, tragic events would conspire against him.

Diamond’s domestic bliss was shattered by a surprising development close to home. In the early evening of July 3, 2018, a fire broke out at a shooting range in the town of Basalt, near the singer’s home. And within hours, the blaze had engulfed not only Basalt’s wooded areas but those of nearby Carbondale as well.

During the course of its two-month path of destruction, what became known as the Lake Christine Fire caused unimaginable damage to the surrounding area. In total, the inferno consumed 12,500 acres, while three homes were burnt to cinders. Meanwhile, inhabitants of 500 households were cleared while relief centers were opened in both Basalt and Carbondale.

Of course, the townsfolk’s safety would not have been possible without the efforts of the Colorado fire service. And by the first week of September 2018, the team of brave firefighters had managed to contain the blaze. Naturally, residents of the area were grateful for their service — none more so than Diamond, who found an incredible way to repay their hard work.

On July 28 — midway through the service’s arduous fight — Diamond dropped by Basalt’s Incident Command unit, alongside his wife. As the singer took to the center’s make-shift stage, guitar in hand, the rapturous applause he received from the heroes gathered showed just how much his imminent gesture meant. “Now you have to save my house,” he joked to the room.

As the hundred-odd service men and women prepared themselves for the celeb’s first performance in half a year, Diamond made sure they knew they were the real stars. “I want to take you all home,” he said. “I want to give you a kiss… And I just want to say thank you from the people of this area.”

“This town has not been this happy since… I don’t know,” the storied singer continued. “I’ve been here for 20 years and you’ve made everybody happier. The heaviness on our hearts is gone and we know the cavalry is here and we say thank you to each of you for making this trip.”

After showing the firefighters his gratitude, Diamond then began to give the crowd their real prize. Sitting down in front of a microphone, the star launched into “Sweet Caroline.” The joy in the room at that moment was palpable. Indeed — with the audience singing along with every refrain — it may have just been the most special gig of Diamond’s entire career.

Throughout the star’s short set, Diamond’s audience had been readily recording the performance. And after posting the footage on the Lake Christine Fire Facebook page, fans were floored by the musician’s generosity. “Neil Diamond has always been one of my favorite singers,” wrote Annie Christian. “Today, he has been elevated to my HERO.”

That gig was the last Diamond played for a while — but he did promise fans that they could still expect to hear more from the singer in the future. “I still have my voice,” the star told the Associated Press in August 2018. “I just can’t do the traveling that I once did, but I have my wife there supporting me, [as well as my] friends.”

And despite the singer’s health issues, Diamond was still managing to find sunshine through the clouds — for himself and for others too. “It does have its challenges, but I’m feeling good and I feel very positive about it,” he continued. “I’m feeling better every day. Just dealing with it as best as I can, and just keep the music coming.” And he even considered a residency.

“I think I can and I will give it a try at some point,” he said. “I’m glad to still be around. The fact that I’m still singing well is a bonus and I hope to continue doing it, but in a format that I can handle.” Of a potential residency, he said, “I feel I can do it. I want to do it. It’s just a matter of resting up, finding the time, preparing, and then just doing the show.” And while that never came to pass, it wasn't the last time we saw the legendary singer.

Two years after giving up on touring, a 79-year-old Diamond held court at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in 2020. He played his hit songs “Hello Again,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Love on Rocks,” “I Am…I Said," and "September Morn" for the crowd at the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala benefit. And that's not all.

In 2022 theatergoers were treated to a new show called A Beautiful Noise. It's based on Diamond's life and career and features some of his greatest records. It debuted in Boston for a month in the summer and then transferred to Broadway in December. And coinciding with the release of the musical in Boston, Diamond made a surprise appearance in a very special place.

On June 19, 2022, the Red Sox were behind the Cardinals by eight runs — but they still stuck to their tradition of singing “Sweet Caroline” in the eighth inning. At this game, though, Diamond himself put in a special appearance. He was wearing a Red Sox hat and jacket and was joined by Will Swenson from A Beautiful Noise. It was his first performance at Fenway Park since 2013, and the fans loved every minute of it.

After all, Diamond's music certainly hasn't lost any of its power. The Broadway musical has been playing to sell-out audiences — and they haven't forgotten the singer they love. At a January 24, 2023, performance of A Beautiful Noise, for instance, the cast and the crowd all joined together to wish Diamond a happy 83rd birthday. It's something Diamond could never have dreamed of when he was getting his start in the business.

Growing up poor in Brooklyn, there wasn't much in the way of opportunity for a young Neil Diamond. He spent his days smoking cigarettes and had little interest in music aside from a few stints in the school chorus. But then Diamond spent a summer at Surprise Lake Camp in upstate New York. After watching folk singer Pete Seeger perform songs written by some of the campers, it occurred to him that he could write songs of his own.

And so, for his 16th birthday, Diamond received his first guitar and began taking lessons. Songwriting became his first real interest as a teen, which he cited as a means of venting his youthful "frustrations." Diamond also parlayed his newfound passion into a knack for poetry, which he used to woo the girls he had a thing for at school. The young poet was so gifted at wordplay that his classmates began asking him to write poems for other girls.

But music wasn't yet a serious career option for Diamond, who decided to attend New York University on a fencing scholarship as a pre-med major. Still, he found himself bored by his schoolwork and would often fall into writing song lyrics instead. Eventually, Diamond began cutting class, choosing instead to take the train up to Tin Pan Alley in an effort to get his songs heard by music publishers. After being offered a 16-week songwriting gig by Sunbeam Music Publishing, he dropped out of school altogether.

After his time with Sunbeam ended, Diamond began creating his own demo tapes and formed the musical duo "Neil and Jack" with his high school friend Jack Packer. The pair cut two unsuccessful singles before Diamond opted to sign with Columbia Records as a solo performer.

Despite producing the well-received single "At Night/Clown Town," Diamond was dropped by Columbia and returned to songwriting. Selling roughly one song a week, he barely earned enough to spend more than a few dollars on food every day.

But the songwriting process was different for Diamond this time around. Without the pressure of studio-imposed deadlines, his creativity flourished, and, in 1965, he had his first major success when Jay and the Americans made his song "Sunday and Me" a top-20 hit.

Diamond then followed up with "I'm a Believer," which the Monkees made a gold record within two days of its release. Soon the likes of Deep Purple, Cliff Richard, and even Elvis Presley began covering his songs, opening the door for Diamond to sign a deal with Bert Bern's Bang Records.

His first release, "Solitary Man," became his first real hit as a solo artist, leading him to open for everyone from up-and-coming rockers to well-established bands such as The Who. This rise in popularity soon translated into a new record deal with Uni Records. And that saw Diamond transform from a talent on the up to an undeniable superstar.

Diamond began selling out shows left and right, belting out hits such as "I Am... I Said," "Song Sung Blues," and "Cracklin' Rose" for crowds of thousands of screaming fans. Through the late '70s — and well into the '80s — Diamond was arguably one of the most sought-after acts on the music scene.

His star power dipped briefly in the '90s, but with the sudden universal popularity of "Sweet Caroline," Diamond returned to the mainstream with a force that carried him into the 21st century. In addition to bringing his discography to a total of 36 albums, he also continued touring the world well into his late 70s.

1969’s “Sweet Caroline” became Diamond’s signature song, one rumored to be about John F. Kennedy’s daughter with the same name. But Diamond was having none of it. “[The song] was about my wife at the time,” Diamond admitted to the Today show in 2014. “Her name was Marsha — and I couldn’t get a ‘Marsha’ rhyme.”