You are about to learn who Carly Simon is, how she became one of pop music’s defining singer-songwriters, and why she is trending right now. She just shared a serious health update in her own words, right as she gets ready to release her first album of new songs in almost two decades.
Background: Who Is Carly Simon?
Carly Elisabeth Simon was born on June 25, 1943, in New York City. She built her career on songs that felt like private diary pages set to music, which is why listeners stuck with her for more than fifty years. Her breakout single, “You’re So Vain,” turned into one of pop music’s longest-running guessing games, since she has never fully confirmed who inspired it.
People search her name for different reasons: the classic hits like “Anticipation,” her marriage to fellow singer-songwriter James Taylor, or, right now, the health news she just made public.
Latest Update
Carly Simon shared over the weekend that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In a statement to Variety, she also revealed she recently had surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma, a common and treatable form of skin cancer. She said she decided to speak up because fans kept asking if she was okay, since she has stayed largely out of the public eye for years. In her own words, she has “not stopped living” and has “not stopped working.”
💬 Why this matters: Simon’s last full public performance was back in 2019, at a benefit concert in New York City. Her decision to speak now gives fans their first real update on her health in years.
At the same time, Simon is preparing to release Comes in Waves, her 24th studio album and her first collection of original songs since 2008. The lead single, “Howl,” came out on June 11, 2026, and the full album is scheduled for August 14, 2026. Reports say it was written and recorded largely at her home on Martha’s Vineyard. No further health details, such as a treatment timeline or prognosis, have been made public as of this date, so anything beyond what she stated herself remains unconfirmed.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Carly grew up in the Riverdale section of the Bronx in a household full of music and books. Her father worked in publishing, and her mother was active in civil rights causes. Carly had a severe stutter as a child, and she found that she could sing without stumbling over words, which is part of why she leaned so hard into music at a young age.
Career Path
She first performed with her older sister Lucy as a folk duo called the Simon Sisters in the 1960s. Her solo career took off in 1971, and by 1972 “You’re So Vain” had made her a household name. She wrote the James Bond theme “Nobody Does It Better” in 1977 and won an Academy Award for “Let the River Run” from the film Working Girl in 1989. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, though performance anxiety kept her from attending the ceremony in person.
Age
Carly Simon is 83 years old, based on her confirmed birth date of June 25, 1943.
Religion
Her father came from a Jewish family and her mother was raised Catholic, giving Carly a mixed religious background. Her own personal religious practice or affiliation as an adult has not been publicly confirmed, so it should not be assumed.
Spouse/Partner
Carly married singer James Taylor in 1972, and they divorced in 1983. She later married writer James Hart in 1987, and that marriage ended in 2007. Some reports mention a later relationship with a surgeon, but that has not been confirmed as a marriage and is treated here as unverified.
Net Worth
Various celebrity finance outlets estimate her net worth at around $80 million, built mainly through record sales, songwriting royalties, and touring. This is an outside estimate rather than a figure she has confirmed herself.
Parents
Her father, Richard L. Simon, co-founded the publishing house Simon & Schuster and died in 1960. Her mother, Andrea Heinemann Simon, was a civil rights activist and philanthropist who died in 1994.
Height
Carly Simon’s exact height has not been confirmed through a verifiable source, so no specific figure is stated here.
Education
She attended the Riverdale Country School before enrolling at Sarah Lawrence College. She left college before finishing her degree in order to pursue music full time.
Hometown/State of Origin
Carly Simon was born and raised in New York City, specifically the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York.
Official Social Media
Her official website, where verified news and tour or release updates are posted, is carlysimon.com.
✅ Quick fact check: Everything in the profile above lines up with publicly documented sources. Where a detail could not be confirmed, such as her exact height, we said so instead of guessing.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1964 | Debuts with sister Lucy as the Simon Sisters folk duo |
| 1971 | Releases self-titled solo debut album |
| 1972 | “You’re So Vain” becomes a No. 1 hit; marries James Taylor |
| 1977 | Writes and performs “Nobody Does It Better” for the James Bond film franchise |
| 1983 | Divorces James Taylor |
| 1987 | Marries writer James Hart |
| 1989 | Wins Academy Award for “Let the River Run” |
| 2007 | Divorces James Hart |
| 2015 | Publishes memoir Boys in the Trees |
| 2019 | Performs at Carnegie Hall benefit, her last known public performance |
| 2022 | Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |
| 2026 | Reveals Parkinson’s and skin cancer diagnoses; releases new album Comes in Waves |
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Is Carly Simon still alive in 2026?
Yes. Carly Simon is alive and gave a public statement about her health as recently as late July 2026. She confirmed she is continuing to work despite her diagnoses.
What illness does Carly Simon have?
She has revealed a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and recently had surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma, a treatable form of skin cancer. She shared no further medical details beyond this statement.
How old is Carly Simon now?
Carly Simon is 83 years old. She was born on June 25, 1943, in New York City.
Who was Carly Simon married to?
She was married to singer James Taylor from 1972 to 1983, and later to writer James Hart from 1987 to 2007. Both marriages ended in divorce.
What is Carly Simon’s most famous song?
Her most famous song is “You’re So Vain,” released in 1972. Its subject has never been fully confirmed by Simon, which has kept the song famous for decades.
Is Carly Simon releasing new music in 2026?
Yes. Her new album, Comes in Waves, is set for release on August 14, 2026. It is her first collection of original songs since 2008.
What is Carly Simon’s net worth?
Outside estimates place her net worth at roughly $80 million, though this figure comes from celebrity finance sites rather than Simon herself.
⚠️ A note on accuracy: Health details beyond what Carly Simon has stated publicly, and any figures like net worth or height that are not independently confirmed, should be treated as estimates, not verified facts.
Wrap-Up
Carly Simon’s story is really two stories running side by side right now. One is the long arc of a songwriter who turned a childhood stutter into one of pop music’s most distinct voices, with an Oscar, multiple Grammys, and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction to show for it. The other is a newer chapter, where she chose to speak openly about a Parkinson’s diagnosis and a skin cancer surgery instead of letting rumors fill the silence.
What stands out is the timing. She is not stepping back after this announcement; she is putting out new music weeks later, which says a lot about how she wants this chapter read: as continuation, not conclusion.
As more comes out about her health or the new album’s reception, this page will reflect only what credible reporting confirms, not assumptions dressed up as facts.
John Wood is the founder and lead editor of Biography Region. He researches and writes accurate, engaging biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, influencers, and public figures, delivering well-sourced, reader-focused content that informs and inspires.