Michael Bolton opens up about brain cancer battle in new interview
The singer was diagnosed with brain cancer in late 2023 after having to undergo an emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor.
WASHINGTON — Grammy-winning singer Michael Bolton is opening up about his ongoing battle with brain cancer.
In an interview published with People this week, the 72-year-old singer talked about his diagnosis with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Bolton was diagnosed in late 2023 after having to undergo emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor. He underwent another brain surgery just a month after due to an infection, according to the outlet.
The singer said he finished radiation and chemotherapy treatments in October, which he said have affected his short-term memory, speech and mobility. Bolton said he has been undergoing MRI scans every two months to make sure the tumor had not returned.
“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 singer said his most recent scan in April came out clear and he revealed he intentionally did not get a prognosis. People noted, while citing the Glioblastoma Foundation, that the recurrence rate for the disease is about 90%.
“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 said in the interview. “It actually helps people to know. It reminds them that they’re not alone.”
Bolton told People that he spends much of his time with his daughters and grandchildren. He said his battle with brain cancer has given him a “heightened sense of appreciation.”
“How do I give things that they can take forward? 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,” he told the outlet. “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,” he continued. “I got a title for a song: ‘Ain’t Going Down Without a Fight.’
The singer first shared the news of his illness in January 2024 on Instagram, where he announced he was taking a break from touring as he had undergone brain surgery.
“Just before the holidays, it was discovered that I had a brain tumor, which required immediate surgery,” he wrote at the time. “Thanks to my incredible medical team.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, about 15,000 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year.