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
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