Michael Bolton underwent ‘immediate surgery’ after brain tumor diagnosis

Michael Bolton is on the mend following surgery following a recent brain tumor diagnosis.

“I want to start by wishing everyone a very happy and healthy New Year! I also want to share that 2023 has ultimately presented me with some very unexpected challenges. Just before the holidays it was discovered that I had a brain tumor, which required immediate surgery,” the 70-year-old Bolton wrote via Facebook on Friday January 5. “Thanks to my wonderful medical team, the surgery was a success.”

The singer said he is currently “recovering at home” while spending time with his loved ones. Bolton is the father of daughters Isa, Holly and Taryn, whom he shares with his ex-wife Maureen McGuire. He is also a loving grandfather.

Although the surgery was a success, Bolton admitted he still has a long road to full recovery. He will also take a break from performing for the foreseeable future.

“Over the next few months I will be dedicating my time and energy to my recovery, which means I will have to take a temporary break from touring,” he explained on Friday. “It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but I have no doubt that I am working hard to speed up my recovery and get back to performing soon.”

Bolton expressed his gratitude for “the love and support” he has received from his fans over the years. He also promised to provide more updates on how he is doing when he can.

Before announcing his musical hiatus, Bolton had a series of shows planned in the United States and Europe. The Grammy winner hit the road and performed songs from his latest album, Spark of lightwhich dropped in July 2023.

The album marked the first time Bolton released new music in over a decade. The inspiration to make new music after a fourteen-year hiatus came when he started writing songs during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Instead of keeping the songs to himself, Bolton decided to release the songs and help spread the joy.

“I felt a responsibility to help people feel a spark in their lives. Music is very powerful that way,” he explained Billboard after the album’s release. “We are all so humanly connected; We really need some light. That became the work theme every day: ‘How do we make [the music] make other people feel better?’”