Iconic singer Neil Diamond announces his retirement from touring after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
In an official statement released to the media, the doctor advised the legendary musician to cancel the remaining dates of his 50th anniversary tour, the third leg of which was slated to kick off this March in Australia and New Zealand.
"It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement for concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years," Diamond said in the release.
The "Sweet Caroline" singer also apologized to all the fans who already bought concert tickets. No word yet on how the public could refund their tickets.
Parkinson's disease is a long-term degenerative disorder that slowly damages the brain. Early effects include shaking and slowness in movement, eventually leading to changes in speech and memory problems.
Despite this, the 77-year-old singer, who celebrates his birthday on Jan. 24, is keeping it positive. He said he plans to keep on writing and recording "for a long time to come."
Diamond then thanked all his "loyal and devoted" supporters around the world. "This ride has been 'so good, so good, so good,' thanks to you," he finished.
Earlier this month, Diamond was one of the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement awardees, along with Emmylou Harris, Louis Jordan, Queen, and Tina Turner.
In a December 2016 interview with the Rolling Stone, the singer shared how performing has become as important as songwriting to him. "It is a delirious high because you're stepping a little bit into the unknown, even though you've done this before," he told the media outlet of his then upcoming tour. "You're carried along in the wings of adrenaline endorphins."
Diamond's legend spans 50 years and 130 million albums sold worldwide. His hit singles, 38 of which have made it to the Top 40 charts, include "Cherry, Cherry," "Solitary Man," "I'm a Believer," and a lot more.
