Michael Bolton’s music is not a legacy I need to leave behind… after an aggressive brain tumor diagnosis
April 30th, 2025 6:30am PDT
Michael Bolton is trapped in the legacy he wants to leave behind following his 2023 brain cancer diagnosis. It’s not just his music.
Hitmakers of the 80s and 90s discussed the “reality of mortality” in new cover interviews with people… The diagnosis of glioblastoma – a rare and aggressive form of brain tumor – became less concerned about his musical legacy and more focused on how his daughter prepares her daughter without him.
He explains… “How can we give them something that they can move forward? [them] – I want to be on the right side of that so they feel great about who they are. ”
Michael has three daughters – Isa, 49, Holly, 47 and 45 – Tallinn, 6 grandchildren.
The singer of “When Men Love Women” also made him question how he would spend his time with cancer, saying that he “swelled a sense of gratitude,” adding, “I can’t imagine it’s okay not to make the most of your life.”
As far as his cancer treatments go, Michael appears to be on a positive path. The doctor was able to remove the entire tumor during an emergency brain surgery in 2023. This is a rare case, according to his documents.
He completed his radiation and chemotherapy treatments in October and underwent another successful brain surgery this January due to the infection. His current routine is undergoing MRI every two months to monitor cancer.
People report that the short-term memory, speech and mobility of two Grammy winners have been influenced by his treatment, but he cares for himself in a variety of ways, including working with personal trainers and voice therapy coaches and audio lessons.
His overall point? In addition to supporting his family, he quickly finds what he has created… because he insists that “throwing to the challenge is not an option.”
