Michael Bolton isn’t letting his brain cancer diagnosis deter him from the things he loves most.
Since doctors informed him of his glioblastoma — an incurable form of bran cancer — the 72-year-old singer behind such hits as “How Can We Be Lovers?” has maintained a positive demeanor in the face of such a serious medical crisis.
In fact, according to a recent interview with People magazine, the singer’s daughters have revealed that their dad has handled his diagnosis with inspirational grace, going so far as to exit his brain surgery with a well-loved song on his lips.
In late 2023, Bolton underwent a surgical operation to remove a tumor from his brain. As Bolton’s daughters — Isa, 49, Holly, 47, and Taryn, 45 — remember it, Bolton came out of the surgery singing the classic Creedence Clearwater Revival song “Proud Mary” from the band’s 1969 album, Bayou Country.
“He was in recovery in the hospital room singing within minutes,” Holly informed People. “His voice was so powerful. I was like, ‘We need to close the door!'”
As Bolton’s children recall it, the singer’s voice sounded surprisingly strong in spite of the operation, illustrating his strong connection to music and his desire to continue working.
“He was so in that mode and he was singing like he did the day before surgery,” said Holly. “That, for me, was like, ‘Oh, Dad is here.’ He just had surgery, but he was him. And his voice sounded amazing!”
In the two years since his diagnosis, Bolton’s health has slowly deteriorated owing to complications from the disease, along with his recent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. However, Bolton’s daughters have confirmed that the artist is still hard at work crafting music: something they believe has helped both Bolton and his family cope with his illness.
“I still watch him singing songs and writing music,” Holly said. “That’s the stuff that [helped] me get through this last year — really, truly feeling like he has had an exceptional life.”
