Neil Diamond surprises fans with rare performance 7 years after announcing retirement
Neil Diamond made a surprise appearance at Saturday's performance of 'A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical' at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, seven years after he announced his Parkinson's diagnosis and retirement from touring.
In an Instagram video, the musical's lead, 'American Idol' winner Nick Fradiani, introduced Diamond, 84, who delivered an impromptu performance of his hit 'Sweet Caroline' from the audience.
11 Neil Diamond visits 'A Beautiful Noise' at the Hollywood Pantages on July 12.
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for Pantages
11 Neil Diamond in the audience at 'A Beautiful Noise.'
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for Pantages
The music icon, dressed in a baseball cap and long-sleeved shirt, was surrounded by fans who joined him and the band in singing the classic 1969 song.
At the end of the performance, Diamond thanked the crowd who erupted into cheers and roars for him.
11 Neil Diamond sings 'Sweet Caroline.'
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for Pantages
11 Neil Diamond gives an impromptu performance at the musical based on his life.
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for Pantages
'A moment we'll never forget. #abeautifulnoise,' the musical's Instagram page captioned the video of Diamond.
In the comments section, fans praised the Grammy Award winner for his electric performance.
'A moment in Neil's life, such warmth in ours, thank you Neil,' one fan wrote.
11 Neil Diamond at the July 12 performance of 'A Beautiful Noise.'
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for Pantages
11 Neil Diamond with the touring cast of 'A Beautiful Noise.'
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for Pantages
'What a treat for this wonderful cast and show! Neil looks great! God bless him,' another fan said.
A third person wrote, 'Magic. Neil is a true Hero.'
'I was lucky enough to be in the room. Great show, wonderful surprise, still have goosebumps. Thank you!!' someone else said.
11 Neil Diamond with his wife Katie at 'A Beautiful Noise.'
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for Pantages
11 Neil Diamond visits the musical based on his life.
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for Pantages
Fradiani, 39, also posted footage from Diamond's visit to the show with pictures of them posing backstage.
'I built up this day in my head for over 2 years. The day where Neil Diamond himself would see this show,' the singer wrote. 'It sounds cliché, but I don't have the exact words to describe how it felt portraying a music icon as he sat and watched from an audience.'
'But mostly I felt honored and fulfilled,' Fradiani continued. 'He's a great man, a great musician, and he's changed so many of our lives. I was able to tell him how much he's changed mine.'
'A Beautiful Noise,' which is currently on tour at the Pantages Theatre through July 27, opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theater in Dec. 2022 and had its curtain call in June 2024.
The musical is based on Diamond's life and music. Will Swensen originated the lead role, while Fradiani took over for the tour.
Diamond has mostly been out of the spotlight since revealing in 2018 that he has Parkinson's.
11 Neil Diamond performs at the Songwriters Hall of Fame 49th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner in NYC in 2018.
Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame
11 Neil Diamond in 1974.
Getty Images
'This is me; this is what I have to accept. And I'm willing to do it,' he said during an interview on 'CBS Sunday Morning' in March 2023.
'And, OK, so this is the hand that God's given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am,' he added. 'I am.'
11 Neil Diamond posing for a photo at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024.
Getty Images for IMDb
The 'Song Sung Blue,' who attended the Broadway play's opening night in 2022 and performed a rendition of 'Sweet Caroline,' also admitted that he was 'embarrassed' seeing his life onstage.
'Being found out is the scariest thing you can hope for because we all have a facade,' he shared in the CBS interview. 'And the truth be known to all of 'em. I'm not some big star — I'm just me.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Justin Bieber's Son Jack, 11 Months, Is His Golden-Haired Mini-Me in Sweet New Photos
Justin Bieber and 11-month-old Jack Blues posed for two new father-son photos shared on Instagram on Sunday, July 27NEED TO KNOW Justin Bieber shared two new photos with son Jack Blues on Instagram Sunday, July 27 In the sweet snaps, Justin is seen sitting at a table alongside the 11-month-old The singer and wife Hailey Bieber welcomed baby Jack on Aug. 23, 2024Justin Bieber is spending quality time with his baby boy. On Sunday, July 27, the 'Somebody to Love' singer, 31, shared a glimpse of his first child with wife Hailey Bieber, 11-month-old son Jack Blues, in two new photos posted to Instagram. In both of the new snaps, Justin wore a gray vest with blue underpants showing from the top of his bottoms while sitting at a table. He accessorized with pink sunglasses and a blue hat, available from his SKYLRK brand. The singer's baby son Jack was sitting alongside him in a colorful graphic T-shirt and khaki pants, his face not visible to the camera. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. While the infant's face was cropped out of the photos, his golden-blond hair was in full view, which led fans to take notice of how similar he looks to the two-time Grammy winner. 'Justin and mini Justin ❤️,' one person commented, while another wrote, 'I know we never saw his face but we just know he's exactly like you.' A third fan quipped, 'We know it's just a babyface Justin in small version so we don't need to see full picture ❤️.' The sweet photos came after Justin shared a loved-up snap with Hailey, 28, after the pair attended a listening party for his new music at The Bird Street Club. One photo showed them wrapped in each other's arms with their eyes closed for a kiss, while another captured the moment they took a break from mini golf to again lock lips. The 'Baby' singer has previously shared several photos of their son Jack Blues on Instagram. One recent snap showed him and the tot at a music session, while they were seen playing together outside in another short clip. Following the release of his latest album, Swag, Justin also shared several photos on X of himself and Hailey in Italy with their son. Jack could be seen snuggled alongside the 'Peaches' hitmaker while he napped on the beach. A source previously told PEOPLE of the singer's latest music venture, 'This album is a huge milestone for Justin in so many ways." 'It's the first solo album he's released since becoming a father, and it's the first time he's produced sound that's all his own," the insider said. "He was so excited for everyone to listen to his new music.' Read the original article on People
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
'Cosby Show' star Keshia Knight Pulliam mourns Malcolm-Jamal Warner: 'My big brother'
Keshia Knight Pulliam is paying tribute to her onscreen "big brother." The actress, who played Rudy Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," honored her former costar Malcolm-Jamal Warner in an Instagram post on Sunday, July 27, after Warner's death in an accidental drowning. "A week ago I lost my big brother but I gained an angel ... I love you ... I miss you ... We got our girls," she captioned an Instagram video of Warner playing guitar. On her Instagram story, Knight Pulliam, 46, also expressed gratitude "for every text, call and all of the love that you have sent my way" since Warner's death, adding that she has "just needed a moment." Warner, who starred as Rudy's older brother Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" for eight seasons, died on July 20 in a drowning off the coast of Costa Rica. He was 54. Warner's former costars have been speaking out in the days since his death, with Bill Cosby telling ABC News that he "was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much." Cosby added, "He always knew his part. … He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go." Malcolm-Jamal Warner's cause of death confirmed, second man fully recovered Raven-Symoné, who played Olivia Kendall on "The Cosby Show," said in an emotional audio recording posted on Instagram that "words cannot express the pain and sadness and surprise that I feel" over Warner's death. "He was the big brother, he was a beacon. He was one of the most multifaceted, talented men, so gentle," she shared. "And my heart and soul and hugs and kisses go out to his daughter and his wife and his mother." Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who starred as Theo on 'Cosby Show,' dies in drowning at 54 "Cosby Show" alum Geoffrey Owens, who played Elvin Tibideaux, also remembered Warner as "a lovely man" and "a sweet and sensitive soul" in a statement provided to USA TODAY. "I respected him for many reasons, including the fact that he genuinely loved the act of creation," he continued. "He had the mind of an actor and the heart of a musician. He was generous, too; I did a theater project long ago and asked him to participate; and he was there for me. My heart goes out to his family." Other former costars who paid their respects include Tracee Ellis Ross, who worked with him on the BET sitcom "Reed Between the Lines." In an Instagram post, she noted Warner was her "first TV husband." "My heart is so so sad," Ross added. "What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I'm so sorry for this unimaginable loss." Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
Cosmopolitan
an hour ago
- Cosmopolitan
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd's Relationship Timeline
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd just proved that shooting your shot is, indeed, worth it. In case you somehow missed all the signs, the former UConn basketball teammates confirmed their friendship turned into something more with some subtle social media posts—and we couldn't be more obsessed. The WNBA stars are the true embodiment of the best friends-to-lovers trope we all know and love. They met as teens when they were both trying out for point guard on the USA Basketball U16 team, and over the years, their chemistry has gone from courtside to heart-eyes. Can't get enough of these two? Same. That's why we've put together Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd's full relationship timeline for your scrolling pleasure. According to The UConn Blog, Paige and Azzi first met when they were teenagers trying out for a USA Basketball team at summer camp. At the time, Azzi described Paige as 'this skinny little white girl' on the court. 'I watched her play and I was like, 'Oh, I have nothing to worry about this girl,'' Azzi said. 'Like, 'I have a better chance of making it than her.'' After some friendly competition at USA Basketball, the pair formed a bond, and Paige reportedly started visiting Azzi in Washington D.C. to work out together. While Paige had already secured a spot on the UConn women's basketball team, she supported Azzi and started a social campaign to get her on the team, too. Okay, P.B., we see you. All of Paige's work recruiting Azzi worked, because she committed to UConn in November 2020. Shortly after, rumors that they lived together during the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced, thanks to a TikTok of the pair bickering about getting sick. Azzi and Paige are officially teammates! Paige shared a sweet sentiment about their dynamic on and off the court with The UConn Blog in 2021. 'I think we both hate losing but I think we both hate losing to each other more than anything. So we both want to win, we both want to make each other better,' Paige said. 'I think that works on and off the court as well. I think we're just here to make each other better and give each other opportunities and it'll be fun to go at it in practice but once we get on the same court together and go against other teams, I think that'll be good.' Consider this Azzi and Paige's social-active era. The pair is constantly posting content with each other across their Instagram and TikTok accounts, including that time they met Steph Curry: That summer, Azzi shared a Paige appreciation post, too: The pair pulled up to New York Fashion Week, sitting front row for the WhoDecidesWar fashion show. They also posed for some adorable snaps during a UConn press day. We leave you with this cuteness... Paige graced the cover of GQ Hype, and Azzi reflected on when they first met and how Paige supported her committing to UConn. 'This is so on brand for Paige, but she made a little highlight video of herself from her high school games, passing to her teammates and giving them wide-open shots,' Azzi said. 'She presented it to my family and was like, 'You see all these open shots I'm giving to my teammates? That's going to be Azzi [if] she comes to UConn and plays with me.' ' During March Madness—and some of their final moments together as UConn Huskies—Paige and Azzi played a hilarious game of the whisper challenge, which was posted on their socials. On April 14, Paige was selected as the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. Of course, her fellow UConn Husky Azzi was there to support her along the way: Two days later, Paige spoke to Robin Roberts at Good Morning America about the draft and her uber-impressive basketball career so far. Azzi pulled up to the NYC-based studio with her, where they were photographed outside. On June 18, Paige dropped 35 points and secured a win during a basketball game—which just so happens to be Azzi's UConn jersey number—hours after wearing a tee with her face on it. A few days later on June 21, Azzi sneakily soft-launched her relationship with Paige when she posted a mirror selfie with a phone case that read 'Paige Bueckers' Girlfriend.' She also wore her jersey during the Dallas Wings game that day, and they allegedly wore rings featuring each other's birthstones. Cute! A fan caught footage of the duo holding hands after Paige competed in a Dallas Wings vs. Phoenix Mercury game... ...while another asked the athlete for an autograph on a sign that read 'Azzi Fudd's girlfriend, sign here.' Spoiler alert: Paige fully dropped her signature, subtly confirming her relationship status. Then, ahead of WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, Paige correctly answered a series of questions about her 'D1 Girlfriend' in a game with Wag Talk, including the name of the high school she went to, the year she was named Gatorade Player of the Year, her ranking in the class of 2021, and the basketball player she was named after. Paige was also cheekily asked what Azzi's phone case says, and when she was later asked to reveal the name of her 'D1 Girlfriend,' she confirmed the romance rumors by simply saying, 'Azzi Fudd.' Help, we can't stop smiling! Ofc, Azzi supported Paige as she helped guide Team Napheesa Collier to a 151–131 win over Team Caitlin Clark in according to this cute clip from ESPN, the pair looked fab as ever. Finally, on July 17, Paige dropped this gem in an IG dump, clearing up any remaining doubt about her relationship status. That's all for now on these two! We'll dribble some more details in here as soon as they come.
