Carly Simon is opening up about the heartbreaking reason she has been out of the public eye.

The 83-year-old music legend, best known for her classic hit “You’re So Vain,” revealed that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and was also treated for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.

Simon shared the news after years of relative silence, acknowledging that fans had been reaching out and wondering how she was doing. She said the truth is that she has been learning how to live with Parkinson’s, a disease that has changed her daily life in ways she is still trying to understand.

The singer explained that it took time for her to process the diagnosis, adjust to what it meant, and decide how much of her private battle she wanted to share publicly.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and can cause stiffness, tremors, balance problems, exhaustion, and difficulty walking. For Simon, the condition has been unpredictable. Some days, she said, it leaves her struggling to move. Other days, she is able to think, work, create, and feel more like herself.

Simon first began noticing something was wrong after undergoing three joint replacement surgeries related to arthritis. During her recovery, she realized she needed significant help standing and walking. That led her to seek an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, where she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The diagnosis was not the only health challenge she was facing. Around the same time, Simon also underwent surgery on her face to remove basal cell carcinoma. Although the cancer was removed, she said the surgery affected her appearance and made her more self-conscious about being seen in public.

Between the mobility problems, the Parkinson’s diagnosis, the cancer surgery, and the emotional weight of it all, Simon said stepping away from public life became the easiest way to cope.

Still, she made it clear that she has not disappeared from life itself.

Simon said she does not see Parkinson’s as a blessing or a gift. She described it as difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening. But she also said she is still learning how to live with it without feeling like she has surrendered a core part of herself.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but treatments and medication can help manage symptoms. Simon said her doctors have prescribed medication to help with stiffness and other complications, though the disease does not follow a neat or predictable schedule.

Through it all, music has remained one of the constants in her life.

Even as her body has forced her to slow down, Simon said music has helped remind her that illness can change a life without becoming the whole of it. She has continued creating, even if she now relies more on the people around her and accepts that each day may look different.

Her new album, Comes in Waves, is scheduled for release on August 14, proving that Simon’s voice and creative spirit are still very much alive.

“I am still very much here,” Simon said.