No sing-along has ever been so “sweet.” Legendary singer Neil Diamond delighted theatergoers with an unexpected appearance at his namesake musical at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, marking a rare public performance since his retirement due to Parkinson’s disease.
Diamond surprised the audience at “The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise” on Saturday, leading an impromptu sing-along of his iconic 1969 hit “Sweet Caroline,” according to a video posted to the musical’s
page.
The crowd erupted in applause when Diamond appeared, then rose to their feet to join him in singing the beloved classic. The musical’s Instagram caption described it simply as “a moment we’ll never forget.”
This special appearance comes seven years after Diamond announced his retirement from performing in 2018 following his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis,
CNN reported
.
The disease affects the central nervous system.
“A Beautiful Noise,” created with Diamond’s collaboration, chronicles his journey from a Brooklyn kid to a “chartbusting, show-stopping American rock icon,” according to the
official synopsis
. The musical is billed as a “musical memoir” of the singer’s life and career.
In a 2023 interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Diamond spoke candidly about living 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.” He added that he had reached a place of acceptance, noting that “a calm has moved in.”
This story was written with the assistance of AI.
