Paul Simon Illness: Health, Relationships & 2026 Tour Update

Paul Simon has spent decades writing songs that define American music, but in recent years, his own voice has been slipping away from him — not because of age, but because of a profound hearing loss that has reshaped how he performs. In a 2024 interview with CBS News, Simon revealed he had about 6% hearing in his left ear, a condition that has forced him to adapt his setlists and stage setup. This article explores the health challenges behind the legend, the strained but enduring friendship with Art Garfunkel, the songs he can no longer sing, and what his 2026 tour means for fans.

Age: 83 (born October 13, 1941) ·
Net Worth: Approx. $150 million ·
Grammy Awards: 16 ·
Children: 3 (Eddie, Lulu, Adrian)

Six key facts about Paul Simon’s life, from his birth to his current marriage, reveal the shape of a remarkable career.

What illness is Paul Simon suffering from?

What are the symptoms of Paul Simon’s hearing loss?

Paul Simon has been open about his severe hearing loss, which he first noticed while recording the 2023 album Seven Psalms. In a 2024 interview with CBS News (the American broadcaster), he said he had about 6% hearing in his left ear. The loss affected his ability to hear pitch, making it difficult to sing in key and to perform with a full band.

How did the hearing loss affect his performance?

Simon told CBS News that he could no longer perform “You Can Call Me Al” in its original form because of his hearing limitations. He also simplified his repertoire, switching to acoustic versions because the music was now much quieter for him. “I’m playing quieter songs, softer arrangements,” he said, as reported by CBS News.

Has Paul Simon sought treatment?

Simon has been working with hearing specialists and uses hearing aids. In a 2025 press release from Starkey (the hearing aid manufacturer), he discussed how hearing aids supported his ability to continue making and performing music. He also participated in a fundraiser for Stanford Initiative Cure Hearing, as reported by Billboard (the music industry publication).

The implication: Simon’s hearing loss is not a retirement sentence — it’s a creative constraint that forces him to reimagine his own catalog.

Is Art Garfunkel still friends with Paul Simon?

Why did Simon and Garfunkel stop performing together?

The duo’s split after 1970’s Bridge Over Troubled Water was driven by creative differences and personal friction. They reunited sporadically, most notably for a 2010 concert in New York. According to multiple interviews, the relationship remains strained but respectful. Billboard notes that Simon and Garfunkel are no longer performing together.

Have they reconciled?

In a 2022 interview, Art Garfunkel reflected on their friendship, saying he and Simon “still talk” and that there is “a lot of love” despite the history. The exact nature of their current relationship is not publicly confirmed, but they maintain contact.

Did Art Garfunkel ever marry?

Yes, Art Garfunkel married Kathryn Garfunkel in 1972, and they have three children. He has been married for over 50 years.

The pattern: The Simon & Garfunkel story is one of unresolved tension — two brilliant musicians who can’t quite let go but can’t quite reunite either.

What song can Paul Simon no longer sing?

Why can’t he sing ‘The Sound of Silence’?

Simon told CBS News that he can no longer sing “The Sound of Silence” because of the high notes. The hearing loss makes it impossible for him to maintain pitch accuracy on that song. He also cited “You Can Call Me Al” as a song he cannot perform in its original form.

What other songs are affected?

While Simon has not provided an official list, he has said that many of his older songs with high vocal ranges are now difficult. He adapts his setlist to include lower-register material and acoustic arrangements. The CBS News interview reports that Simon now performs “simpler, quieter versions” of his hits.

How does he adapt his setlist?

Simon’s 2025 A Quiet Celebration Tour featured songs from Graceland and Seven Psalms in stripped-down arrangements. According to Relix (the music magazine), the tour included 55 engagements across North America, with Simon performing acoustic versions of his classics.

The trade-off: Simon sacrifices the vocal fireworks of his youth for the intimacy of acoustic storytelling — and the audience gets a more vulnerable, human performance.

Why did Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon split?

When did Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher divorce?

Simon and Fisher married in 1983 and divorced in 1984. The marriage lasted less than two years. In her memoir Wishful Drinking, Fisher described the relationship as tumultuous, with both partners struggling with substance abuse and career pressures.

Did they have children together?

No, they did not have children during their brief marriage. Simon later had three children with his current wife, Edie Brickell.

What was the main cause of the split?

Multiple sources, including Fisher’s own accounts, point to a combination of drug use, alcohol, and the strain of two high-profile careers. The split was amicable enough that they remained friends until Fisher’s death in 2016.

The implication: The Simon-Fisher marriage was a star-crossed collision of two creative forces — both iconic, both volatile — and it burned out in less than 18 months.

How is Paul Simon doing today?

What is Paul Simon’s current health status?

Simon continues to manage his hearing loss with hearing aids and adapted performance techniques. In the 2025 Starkey release, he described his journey as an “emotional adaptation” and expressed gratitude for the technology that allows him to keep performing. Starkey (the hearing aid manufacturer) published an intimate conversation between Simon and Dr. Dave Fabry about the emotional toll of hearing loss.

Is he still performing?

Yes. Simon launched the A Quiet Celebration Tour in 2025 and announced a 2026 European leg with 21 performances across 10 cities, as reported by Jambands (the music news site). The tour includes dates in Forest Hills, New York, and Raleigh, North Carolina, listed on Paul Simon’s official site.

What new projects has he released?

In 2023, Simon released Seven Psalms, a quietly spiritual album that he recorded while his hearing was deteriorating. He has not announced a new album but continues to perform and support hearing-health initiatives.

What this means: Simon’s 2026 tour is a testament to adaptation — he is not cured, but he is performing, and that alone is a victory for fans who feared his career was over.

Paul Simon’s career is not ending — it’s transforming. He has traded the high notes of “The Sound of Silence” for the quiet intimacy of Seven Psalms, and he’s taking that new sound on the road in 2026. For fans who grew up with the harmonies of Simon & Garfunkel, the choice is clear: see him now, in this stripped-down form, or risk missing the chance to witness a legend adapting to a body that no longer cooperates. Simon’s hearing loss is a limitation, but his response is a masterclass in creative resilience.