Michael Bolton, the iconic singer and songwriter, recently disclosed his diagnosis of brain cancer. He opened up about his demons, and how people around him like his family always stood by him. On June 9, 2023, Bolton set Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico on fire. Sadly, this memorable concert would come just months before his health complications would start to severely decline.
It was in November 2023, at a charity event organized by Richard Branson on Necker Island, that Bolton’s family first witnessed some very disturbing symptoms. He had nausea and bad balance which sounded an alarm regarding his health. The situation took a turn for the worse when, just after Thanksgiving 2023, he fell from his chair with no warning. Taryn recalled the family’s worries as they saw their dad’s health deteriorate. “We all sensed that something’s wrong with his brain,” she said.
After struggling with these ominous symptoms, Bolton had emergency brain surgery in early January 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma. The surgery had an excellent initial resection. Things took a turn for the worse, requiring the team to do a second procedure that month to treat an infection. All said and done, by October 2024, he had undergone 35 radiation treatments and a course of chemotherapy.
Since then, Bolton has been vigilant about his health, getting MRIs every other month. In April, his latest scan came back clear. This unexpected discovery was a shining ray of light into his otherwise dark and relentless fight with the disease.
Bolton reflected on his journey, expressing a desire to share his experiences to provide comfort to others facing similar challenges. He made a touching plea about the need for connection and support through dark times.
“Whenever you find yourself in any kind of challenging position, just to know that you’re not alone going through it is a big deal. It actually helps people to know.” – Michael Bolton
Given his serious health concerns, Bolton released a statement explaining his decision to take a leave from touring in order to heal. He’s hellbent on making it back to the stage. As for what’s next, he says, “I want to keep going. I feel like there’s still a lot to do on the fight side. He hopes to use the platform to motivate and encourage others, providing them with valuable life lessons that will stick with his fan base.
“How do I give things that they can take forward? Life lessons, love, any kind of validation that I can give them,” – Michael Bolton
Bolton attributes his family, especially his wife, as being the backbone of his recovery journey, their support never wavering during this especially dark time. Though he was clearly emotional, he spoke deeply about how grateful he was for their presence through the process.
“Ain’t Going Down Without a Fight” – Michael Bolton
