Skip to content 
Picture the bright lights of Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The ball is ready to drop, and thousands of people are packed shoulder to shoulder, singing along at the top of their lungs.
Right in the middle of it all stood Neil Diamond, microphone in hand, leading everyone through his timeless hit “Sweet Caroline.”
The energy was electric. Fans waved their hands and shouted “bah bah bah” right along with him as 2018 began. It felt like one big, joyful family party.
Neil Diamond – “Sweet Caroline” New Year’s Eve Times Square 2018
That magical night happened on January 1, 2018.
But just 22 days later, the music world got some very tough news.
On January 23, 2018, Neil Diamond announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He was retiring from concert touring right away. Every future date on his 50th Anniversary World Tour disappeared overnight.
The remaining shows planned for Australia and New Zealand were canceled. His decades of live performances had come to a sudden stop.
Watch this report on the announcement that changed everything:
Neil Diamond announces Parkinson’s diagnosis and retirement
Insiders later shared that Neil had quietly told a few close people this might be the end of his road on stage. That’s why he chose “Sweet Caroline” that freezing New York night — it was the perfect song to leave his fans with one last happy memory.
Neil’s final full concert had actually taken place back on October 19, 2017, in London. Yet this Times Square TV appearance became one of the last times most fans saw him perform live.
The timing hit hard. One minute fans were celebrating with him under the New Year lights. The next they were reading the retirement news and feeling that emotional whiplash.
Neil Diamond had spent more than 50 years giving the world hit after hit — “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” and so many others that still play at ballparks, weddings, and parties everywhere.
Even after stepping away from the road, he kept writing and recording music. He handled the news with the same grace he showed on stage for all those years.
Fans from the boomer and Gen X generations still talk about that Times Square night. It reminds everyone how quickly things can change, but also how one song can bring millions together.
Neil may no longer tour, but his voice and those unforgettable melodies will keep playing forever.
