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Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Bolton, singer and longtime Detroit supporter, opens up about brain cancer
Michael Bolton is sharing a deeply personal chapter in his life: a battle with brain cancer that led to two surgeries in the span of just weeks. The 72-year-old Grammy winner and Detroit aficionado was diagnosed with glioblastoma — a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer— in December 2023. Bolton underwent emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor in December 2023 and underwent another brain surgery in January 2024 due to an infection, according to an April 30 People magazine interview where the singer opened up about his diagnosis. He told the magazine he finished radiation and chemotherapy treatment in October, and his most recent scan was clear in early April. Bolton said he has intentionally not received a prognosis, and People noted that glioblastoma has a roughly 90% recurrence rate. According to People, Bolton's treatments have impacted his "short-term memory, speech, and mobility." '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.' The prolific singer's body of work spans five decades, and he has won two Grammys for the songs "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" and "When a Man Loves a Woman." In 2023, Bolton released his first new album of original songs in 14 years, "Spark of Light," which he followed up with the holiday album "Christmas Time." He was a contestant on "The Masked Singer" earlier that same year. Bolton's 2013 album, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville USA," deepened his connection to the City of Detroit through its focus on Motown hits and eventually inspired his 2018 documentary, "American Dream: Detroit." The film, a personal passion project, pays tribute to the Motor City's cultural and musical history while spotlighting the entrepreneurs, artists and innovators driving its revival. More: Michael Bolton's film about Detroit coming to theaters for one-night screening The documentary features Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Alice Cooper, Mayor Mike Duggan, John Varvatos, developer Dan Gilbert, and Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom. Bolton previously shared in January 2024 that he would take a step back from touring after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. At the time, he said he was "recuperating at home and surrounded by the tremendous love and support of my family," adding that he would devote his time and energy to his recovery over the following months. The announcement came after Bolton rescheduled a show in his home state of Connecticut in December 2023 due to illness. In March 2024, Bolton shared in an update that he was "healing well and doing better every day" while "enjoying the company of my daughters and grandkids" at home. In December, Bolton posted a photo of himself celebrating the holidays with his family. "Sending warm wishes for a holiday season filled with peace, love, and joy," he wrote. "May the New Year bring health, happiness, and countless moments to cherish. Here's to fresh starts and beautiful moments in 2025!" Despite the physical toll of treatment, the star said he's found strength in being open about his experience. '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,' Bolton told People. 'It actually helps people to know. It reminds them that they're not alone.' Bolton has been spending more time at home in Westport, Connecticut, where he's lived for over three decades, according to People. These days, much of his focus is on family, including his daughters and six grandchildren — Amelia, 14; Olivia, 13; Dylan, 11; Grayson, 10; River, 9; and Jack, 8. According to the Cleveland Clinic, glioblastoma is a "devastating" type of cancer that "can result in death in fewer than six months without treatment." It begins as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord and "grows quickly," and symptoms can include headaches, decline in brain functions and memory loss, per the Mayo Clinic More: Founder of Detroit-style Pizza Company, Shawn Randazzo, dies at 44 The National Brain Tumor Society describes glioblastoma as "one of the most complex, deadly, and treatment-resistant cancers," with a five-year survival rate of 6.9%. In 2018, Sen. John McCain died from glioblastoma after being diagnosed the previous year. USA TODAY's KiMi Robinson contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michael Bolton opens up about his brain cancer battle
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Bolton Opens Up About Brain Cancer Battle: ‘Succumbing to the Challenge Is Not an Option'
More than a year after revealing that he had undergone surgery to remove a tumor from his brain, Michael Bolton is opening up about his cancer battle at length for the first time. Speaking to People for a cover story with his family published Wednesday (April 30), the 72-year-old icon shared new details about being diagnosed with glioblastoma — an aggressive form of cancer that 'starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord' and 'can invade and destroy healthy tissue,' according to Mayo Clinic — in December 2023. After receiving the diagnosis, he quickly underwent surgery, something he shared with fans while announcing that he'd be postponing his upcoming concerts in a January 2024 Instagram post. More from Billboard Michael Bolton on His Inspiring New Album, 'Spark of Light': 'I Felt a Responsibility to Help People' Los Ángeles Azules & Thalia's 'Yo Me Lo Busqué' Soars to No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay Chart Lucy Dacus Explains Why Going Public With Julien Baker Romance Makes Her a Little 'Uncomfortable' Fortunately, Bolton's doctors were able to remove the tumor in its entirety during surgery, and after a second brain surgery in January 2024 to treat an infection — plus a combination of radiation and chemotherapy — the musician has had no new tumors as of early April, when he had his last scan. But the road ahead will still be challenging, with Bolton now undergoing MRIs every two months to stay vigilant against glioblastoma's high recurrence rate. Fifteen months after surgery, Bolton reflects, 'You're reaching into your resources and your resolve in a way that you never would have thought.' 'Succumbing to the challenge is not an option,' he added to the publication, which noted that Bolton's short-term memory, speech and mobility have suffered as a result of his treatments. 'You're really quickly drawn into a duel. I guess that's the way you find out what you're made of.' Amid the life-changing experience, Bolton says he's been redefining his definition of legacy. Rather than thinking about it in terms of his career — which includes two Grammys, 19 Billboard Hot 100 hits and two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 — the 'How Am I Supposed to Live Without You' vocalist is now choosing to focus on what he's leaving behind for his family. 'How do I give things that they can take forward?' he told People. 'Life lessons, love, any kind of validation that I can give [them] — I want to be on the right side of that so they feel great about who they are. It's a reality of mortality. Suddenly a new light has gone on that raises questions, including 'Am I doing the best that I can do with my time?'' 'I want to keep going. I feel there's still a lot to do on the fight side,' added Bolton, who has deliberately not received a prognosis to keep his hopes high. 'I got a title for a song: 'Ain't Going Down Without a Fight.'' Also featured in the cover story were the musician's daughters Isa, Taryn and Holly, who remembered how their dad started singing in his hospital room just minutes after waking up from surgery. Bolton and his family — which also includes six grandchildren — posed together in a photo for the piece, which Bolton shared on Instagram Wednesday and wrote, 'My hope in sharing this part of my journey is that it might offer comfort to other families facing similar challenges, and perhaps even inspire those navigating their own adversity.' 'I also want to thank all of you for the love, support, and patience you've shown over this past year,' he added. 'I've drawn strength from your encouragement, and I continue to draw strength from it every day as I move forward on this journey.' The interview marks the first time Bolton has shared an in-depth update on his health. In March 2024, he simply wrote on Instagram, 'I am healing well and doing better every day,' adding that he was 'enjoying the company of my daughters and grandkids during this time at home and practicing on my putting green whenever it's not raining!' The following May, he announced that his postponed Greatest Hits Live concert at the O2 Arena in London would be rescheduled for July 5 this year. 'Thank you all for your continued support during my recovery!' he wrote at the time. 'Although I wanted to be there sooner I'm so looking forward to spending a special evening together at the O2 London next summer!!!' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
