Neil Diamond’s Touching Tribute to Fans: “This Makes Me Smile”
In a rare public moment that stirred emotions across the music world, legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond expressed heartfelt gratitude to his fans who made an unexpected and selfless decision — donating their concert ticket refunds to Parkinson’s research instead of asking for their money back.
This emotional revelation came during a special event held in New York City on July 20th, where Diamond made a surprise appearance at a Parkinson’s charity gala. Looking visibly moved, he addressed the crowd with a quiet voice but a powerful message.
“To all of you who gave up your refunds and turned them into something good — this makes me smile,” Diamond said, pausing to control his emotions. “You didn’t just give back a ticket. You gave hope.”
The Story Behind the Gesture
The moment stems from Diamond’s 2018 retirement from touring due to his Parkinson’s diagnosis. When he canceled the remaining shows of his 50th Anniversary Tour, fans were offered full refunds. But something unexpected happened — a significant number of fans requested that their refunds be redirected to medical research.
Instead of pocketing the money, they chose to support the cause closest to Diamond’s heart. These individual choices snowballed into a movement, and by mid-2019, over $850,000 had been raised through fan-donated refunds alone. The donations were channeled into the Neil Diamond Parkinson’s Foundation, which partners with several cutting-edge research institutes.
This quiet but powerful movement had never been formally acknowledged in public — until now.
Diamond’s First Public Appearance in Months
The New York event marked one of Diamond’s few public appearances in recent years. Since his diagnosis, he’s largely kept a low profile, occasionally sharing updates through social media or pre-recorded messages. But this time, he wanted to speak directly — not as a performer, but as someone deeply touched by the humanity of his audience.
Wearing a simple dark suit and escorted by his wife Katie McNeil, Diamond stood before a crowd of scientists, donors, and longtime fans. As a video montage of his touring days played in the background, he smiled quietly and mouthed the words to “I Am… I Said.”
His brief speech lasted only five minutes, but the impact lingered much longer.
“This disease has taken many things from me,” he said. “But what it can’t take is the bond I have with the people who’ve listened to me, believed in me, and — now I know — would fight for me.”
Fans Share Their Stories
Following the event, social media was flooded with comments from fans who had made the decision to donate.
“I just couldn’t take the money back,” one fan posted. “His music has been there through every stage of my life — weddings, funerals, heartbreaks. Donating was the least I could do.”
Another fan wrote:
“My refund was about $125. That’s not much in the big picture. But if it helps Neil, or someone like him, live a better life — it’s worth every cent.”
Some even printed out the receipt from their donation and framed it next to their favorite Neil Diamond vinyl.
A Ripple of Goodness
The story is a reminder of how powerful music can be — not just as entertainment, but as a force of human connection. Neil Diamond may have stepped away from the stage, but his influence clearly hasn’t waned.
Since the start of the Neil Diamond Parkinson’s Foundation, over $3.5 million has been raised, funding early diagnostics, gene therapy studies, and patient wellness programs.
Researchers at Columbia University, one of the Foundation’s partners, publicly thanked Diamond and his fans, stating:
“Your support goes beyond numbers. It helps real people — our patients, our families, our future.”
Closing With a Song
Before leaving the stage, Diamond surprised attendees by singing a soft, acoustic version of “Sweet Caroline” — not with full instruments, but just his voice, slightly trembling, accompanied by one guitar.
As the chorus hit, the room joined in:
“Good times never seemed so good…”
And for a few minutes, despite the diagnosis, despite the years, it really did feel like a good time.