logo
#SHOWBIZ: American singer Michael Bolton opens up about fighting brain cancer

#SHOWBIZ: American singer Michael Bolton opens up about fighting brain cancer

WESTPORT: American music star Michael Bolton recently shared his ongoing battle with brain cancer on Instagram.
The 72-year-old Grammy-winning singer expressed his determination to keep fighting, noting that the experience has given him a "heightened sense of appreciation."
Bolton had previously discussed his condition in an interview with People magazine, published on April 30. He first disclosed his illness publicly in January of last year.
At that time, he revealed that he was recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumour and was taking a "temporary break" from touring.
"You're reaching into your resources and your resolve in a way that you never would have thought," Bolton told People.
"Succumbing to the challenge is not an option. You're really quickly drawn into a duel. I guess that's the way you find out what you're made of."
Bolton, known for hits like 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?' (1989) and 'When A Man Loves A Woman' (1991), was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, in December 2023.
According to People, he underwent emergency surgery, during which doctors successfully removed the entire brain tumour.
He then underwent a second brain operation in January 2024 due to an infection.
Bolton has three daughters – Isa, 49; Holly, 47; and Taryn, 45 – from his marriage to Maureen McGuire, which lasted from 1975 to 1990. He also has six grandchildren.
Since completing radiation and chemotherapy treatment in October 2024, Bolton has been undergoing MRIs every two months to monitor for any recurrence of the tumour.
The treatments have affected his short-term memory, speech, and mobility.
To address these issues, he is working with a personal trainer and taking voice lessons, including voice therapy.
He also incorporates daily meditation and plays golf as often as possible.
Bolton's health crisis has brought the reality of mortality into sharp focus, prompting him to reflect on whether he is making the most of his time.
"I want to keep going. I feel there's still a lot to do on the fight side," he said.
"I've even got a title for a song: 'Ain't Going Down Without A Fight'.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

#SHOWBIZ: Documentary reveals Billy Joel attempted suicide twice in the past
#SHOWBIZ: Documentary reveals Billy Joel attempted suicide twice in the past

New Straits Times

time3 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

#SHOWBIZ: Documentary reveals Billy Joel attempted suicide twice in the past

NEW YORK CITY: American singer Billy Joel "at one point wanted to end it all," according to the documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.' The new film, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival in New York City last week, revisits some of the singer's struggles, including two suicide attempts that followed an affair with his bandmate's wife, People magazine reports. The first part of the documentary recounts how Joel was in the band Attila with his best friend, Jon Small. Joel eventually moved in with Small, his wife, Elizabeth Weber, and their son. Weber reportedly states in the film that there was a "slow burn" between her and Joel. Joel admitted he "felt very, very guilty" about their subsequent affair. It ended in a fight, and the band split after he confessed to Small that he was in love with Weber. "They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel told the filmmakers. "I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset." After Weber left, Joel said he spiralled into drinking, became homeless, and was "depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic." He recalled thinking, "That's it. I don't want to live anymore. I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all." His sister, Judy Molinari, then a medical assistant, gave him sleeping pills, all of which Joel took. He ended up in the hospital in a coma for days. "I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was lying there white as a sheet," she said in the film. "I thought that I'd killed him." During his second suicide attempt, Joel said he drank a bottle of cleaning fluid. Ironically, it was Small who took him to the hospital. "Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Joel said. He sought help, which Joel credits with helping him channel his emotions into the music that brought him success. Years later, Joel and Weber reconnected and were married from 1973 to 1982. She continues to admire him and has been supportive as the superstar musician recently cancelled tour dates to seek treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition affecting the brain. "He's worked so hard all of his life," she told E! News at the premiere. "I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together." 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' is set to air on HBO next month.

Taylor Swift 'working to trust' Blake Lively after Justin Baldoni subpoena
Taylor Swift 'working to trust' Blake Lively after Justin Baldoni subpoena

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

Taylor Swift 'working to trust' Blake Lively after Justin Baldoni subpoena

Taylor Swift is the godmother to Blake Lively's children. Photo: TNS Sources are shedding light on the state of Taylor Swift's fractured decade-long friendship with Blake Lively after the pop star was dragged into the actress' messy legal battle with Justin Baldoni. Swift was subpoenaed in May to serve as a witness in the case, with Baldoni's legal team saying she potentially had information regarding the behind-the-scenes drama on It Ends With Us. Despite the subpoena being dropped weeks later, an insider told People that the Grammy winner, 35, is still 'working to trust Blake again' and that it's 'going to take some time.' Lively filed a lawsuit in late December accusing her It Ends With Us director and co-star of sexual harassment while working on the film and a subsequent smear campaign. Baldoni in January filed a US$400mil defamation countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane, also accusing them of civil extortion. Months later, Baldoni's lawyers subpoenaed Swift, specifically citing her presence at a heated meeting over rewrites to the script and texts that Lively sent in which she allegedly referred to her friend as one of her 'dragons.' People's source said that Lively and Swift — the godmother to Lively's children — 'haven't been spending as much time together as they did in the past,' prior to the lawsuit, though the longtime besties are trying to get 'on good terms.' In the days after the subpoena was initially filed, an insider told Us Weekly that Swift and Lively had spoken but the relationship was 'strained.' The outlet subsequently reported that Swift had 'begun to distance herself' and that mutual friend Gigi Hadid had 'naturally done the same' amid the legal and publicity warfare. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service

A Clip Of Sharifah Aini's Vocal Prowess Shines A Light On Malaysian City Pop
A Clip Of Sharifah Aini's Vocal Prowess Shines A Light On Malaysian City Pop

Rakyat Post

time8 hours ago

  • Rakyat Post

A Clip Of Sharifah Aini's Vocal Prowess Shines A Light On Malaysian City Pop

Subscribe to our FREE Malaysia's music scene is full of talent, and Instagram user Pri (@pridrinks) recently celebrated the late Datuk Sharifah Aini and our local city pop sound. Pri, who's a DJ, shared a clip of Sharifah's song titled 'Kudaku Lari' and noted her vocal prowess, especially her ability to hold long and high notes. He believes it's one of the hardest songs to sing along to and encourages everyone to give it a go. He claimed Sharifah gives American singer-songwriter Bill Withers a run for his money too. In the comments, many people were won over by her voice and the song. Someone noted how minimal audio engineering was used at the time, hinting at the 'nearly pure' sound of Sharifah's singing voice. Sharifah's high note was so good that a user shared that a sample of the song was used in one of Malaysia's famous rap tracks, Too Phat's 'Anak Anyam.' Did anyone attempt to sing it? A user shared that they will attempt it the next time they're singing karaoke and hope they will not pass out. Meanwhile, the other person who attempted to hold the high note admitted that it was a challenge and had to take multiple deep breaths to achieve a fraction of what Sharifah did. However, the comment that stood out the most was shared by a user who played the song by the Barcelona pier. A foreign tourist at the beach heard the song and was surprised to find out it was a Malaysian singer. Pri's post also triggered a fond memory from the late singer's friend. The user shared that the legendary second Biduanita Negara Sharifah performed at their wedding and described the singer as a 'generous and wonderful friend. What are the other classic Malaysian city pop songs to check out? If Sharifah Aini's song has set you down the path of Malaysia's city pop genre, you can check out songs by Sheila Majid, Francissca Peter, and Sudirman. Here are songs by some of our local singers to get you started: Demi Cinta Sejati – Royston Sta Maria & Francissca Peter Malam Sunyi – Francissca Peter Fikirkan Dulu – Sheila Majid Kekasih – Francissca Peter Datanglah – Fairuz Hussein Kejadian Ini – Francissca Peter Jangan Ku Kau Persiakan – Noorkumalasari Ketenangan Jiwa – Sudirman Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store