“I want someone by my side who I love and who loves me,” the singer shared.
The iconic singer Neil Diamond was born on 24 January 1941 and turned 82 recently. After several decades of being in the music industry the Sweet Caroline singer announced in 2018 that he was retiring from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. During this time he admitted his wife of over 10 years helps keeps him productive. The two tied the knot in 2012 and have been together since.
DID YOU KNOW? | Neil Diamond has been married three times in total. His first wife was Jaye Posner, followed by Marcia Murphey and Katie McNeil. #DiamondFact #NeilDiamond pic.twitter.com/SOsWD6iYV1
— Fisher Stevens (@FisherStevensUK) May 22, 2022
“I want someone by my side who I love and who loves me,” he told Parade in 2012. “I’ve finally found somebody who’s up to the task of being my wife, because I’m very … high maintenance,” he added. By that, he meant that he needed someone available and who "will have to give up whatever she’s doing at that moment to tend to my needs. And in the same way, I would tend to hers. That’s not such an easy thing to do.” But he found that in his third wife 53-year-old Katie McNeil.
This is Neil Diamond and wife Katie🙋♀️❤❤❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/Zct3VRkQDS
— Birgit kniepert (@birgit_kniepert) November 1, 2018
As for how he's been doing ever since his diagnosis he said that he's been doing pretty well. "I’m active. I take my meds. I do my workouts. I’m in pretty good shape. I’m feeling good. I want to stay productive. I still have my boys. I just can’t do the traveling that I once did, but I have my wife there supporting me (and) friends,” he told USA Today in December 2022. While his health can be challenging he said he is "feeling good and I feel very positive about. I’m feeling better every day.” He added, that he is “just dealing with it as best I can, and just keep the music coming.”
Fortunately for Diamond, the neurodegenerative disorder hasn't affected his vocal chords. “In a strange way, I think I’m singing better than ever,” he told Parade on January 2021. “It’s probably because I’m not on the road singing full-out and tearing up my voice. So it’s in very good shape, which I didn’t expect,” he explained. He also mentioned that he's regular with taking his medications and doing his exercises and his workouts.
Back in 2018 he questioned his ability to perform again but knew he could only find out the truth if he gave it a try. "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,” he said candidly. The musician loves to perform in front of an audience and admitted he loves the chemistry between himself and them. "That’s part of the thrill of the whole thing. There’s a little magic involved in it,” Diamond said in 2018. “I’m just going to keep on keeping on, and that’s about it.”
I don’t know who needs to hear this but Neil Diamond, who retired from performing five years ago because of Parkinsons, just had a Broadway show of him open and it at the opening night he did this pic.twitter.com/eJ02YUAzr5
— Ben Phillips (@benphillips76) December 6, 2022
References:
https://parade.com/31344/davidbrowne/31-neil-diamond-on-life-marriage-music/
https://parade.com/1145211/jimfarber/neil-diamond-parkinsons-disease/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez
