Paul Simon has spent more than six decades writing songs that feel like old friends, but his life has been shaped by health struggles, fractured friendships, and a famously complicated love story. In 2025, at 83, he launched a new tour designed around his severe hearing loss and then underwent back surgery just months later.
Years active: 66+ · Grammy Awards: 16 · No. 1 singles (Billboard Hot 100): 3
Quick snapshot
- Paul Simon has significant hearing loss in his left ear (Paul Simon Official Site)
- He married Carrie Fisher in 1983, divorced in 1984, and has a daughter with her (People)
- He has been married to Edie Brickell since 1992 (Billboard)
- He won 16 Grammy Awards (Paul Simon Official Site)
- Extent of hearing improvement after new technology — Simon reported improvement in 2023 but detailed metrics remain private (People)
- Current status of friendship with Art Garfunkel — Garfunkel expressed regret in 2020, but no recent confirmed contact (People)
- Exact net worth — estimates range around $60 million but not officially verified (People)
- Specific cause of hearing loss — not publicly specified (Paul Simon Official Site)
- February 2025: “A Quiet Celebration Tour” announced, designed for Simon’s hearing needs (Paul Simon Official Site)
- June 2025: Two Philadelphia concerts canceled due to unmanageable back pain (Billboard)
- July 2025: Successful back surgery reported (People)
- Simon is expected to resume limited live performances after recovery (Paul Simon Official Site)
- A summer tour for 2026 has been announced (Paul Simon Official Site)
- New music or collaborations remain possible but unconfirmed (Paul Simon Official Site)
Here are key facts about Paul Simon’s life and career.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Frederic Simon |
| Birth date | October 13, 1941 |
| Birthplace | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Folk rock, world music |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1957–present |
| Spouses | Peggy Harper (1969–1975), Carrie Fisher (1983–1984), Edie Brickell (1992–present) |
| Children | 3 |
What illness is Paul Simon suffering from?
Paul Simon’s primary health challenge in recent years has been severe hearing loss in his left ear. In a 2023 interview with CBS News (broadcast interview), he described the condition as so advanced that he thought he would never perform again. By 2025, however, he had found a way back to the stage.
What is Paul Simon’s hearing loss condition?
- The hearing loss began in the 1990s and worsened progressively (Paul Simon Official Site)
- Simon adapted by using in-ear monitors and specially tailored acoustic arrangements (Relix (music magazine reporting on the tour))
- In 2023, he stated that new technology had improved his ability to hear on stage (CBS News broadcast interview)
How has Paul Simon’s health affected his career?
- He announced retirement from touring in 2018, citing hearing loss (Paul Simon Official Site)
- In February 2025, he launched “A Quiet Celebration Tour” designed as an intimate performance format with acoustics suited to his hearing needs (LiveNOW from FOX (regional news source covering the tour))
- In June 2025, he canceled two Philadelphia concerts due to severe back pain, unrelated to hearing loss (Billboard)
- He underwent successful back surgery in early July 2025 (People)
Simon’s hearing loss is real and severe, but he has refused to let it end his career. The 2025 tour and the back surgery show a musician who keeps adapting — though the fragility of his health now means every performance is a carefully managed event.
Bottom line: Paul Simon’s hearing loss remains his most serious chronic condition, but new acoustic technology and deliberate venue choices have allowed him to perform again. Back surgery was a separate, acute setback that is now resolved.
The implication: Simon’s health challenges have forced him to adapt, but they haven’t stopped his creative drive.
Why are Simon and Garfunkel no longer friends?
Is Art Garfunkel still friends with Paul Simon?
- Their partnership began in the 1950s as Tom & Jerry, then became Simon & Garfunkel (Paul Simon Official Site)
- After the duo’s breakup in 1970, they reunited occasionally but grew apart (Billboard)
- In a 2020 interview, Garfunkel called himself a “fool” for letting the rift happen and expressed regret (People)
- No recent joint performances or public meetings have been reported (Paul Simon Official Site)
Did Art Garfunkel ever marry?
- Yes, Art Garfunkel married Kim Garfunkel in 1988 and they have two children (People)
Bottom line: The legendary duo has not performed together in decades. Garfunkel has publicly wished for reconciliation, but Simon has not reciprocated. For fans hoping for a reunion, no sign points to one.
The pattern: unresolved artistic differences and lack of contact have kept the rift intact.
Why did Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon split?
Who was Carrie Fisher’s love of her life?
- Paul Simon was married to Carrie Fisher from 1983 to 1984 (People)
- Despite the brief marriage, Fisher later called Simon the love of her life in multiple interviews (Billboard)
- They had a daughter, Billie Lourd, born in 1992 (People)
How long were Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher together?
- They began dating in the late 1970s, married in 1983, divorced in 1984 — but remained close friends afterward (Billboard)
- The split was largely attributed to Fisher’s substance abuse struggles (People)
The Fisher-Simon relationship is one of pop culture’s most bittersweet. Two intensely creative people who loved each other deeply but could not make it work. Fisher’s public declaration that Simon was her one true love keeps the story alive, even decades later.
Bottom line: The marriage ended because of addiction, but the affection never faded from Fisher’s side. Simon has remained private about his feelings.
What this means: the relationship remains a defining emotional chapter for both.
What has happened to Paul Simon?
What is Paul Simon doing now?
- He released a new album, Seven Psalms, in 2023 (Paul Simon Official Site)
- He resumed touring in 2024 with selected performances, then announced a full “A Quiet Celebration Tour” for 2025 (LiveNOW from FOX)
- After canceling two shows in June 2025 for back surgery, he is expected to return to the stage later in 2025 or 2026 (People)
Is Paul Simon going on tour?
- Yes, a 2026 summer tour has been announced, but specific dates are pending (Paul Simon Official Site)
- The tour will feature intimate venues and specially adapted sound systems to accommodate his hearing loss (Relix)
Bottom line: Simon is active but cautious. He has resumed performing after a near-retirement, but health setbacks — first hearing, then back — remain part of the equation.
The catch: each performance now requires careful health management, making his return a fragile but determined comeback.
What are Paul Simon’s most popular songs?
What is Paul Simon’s most famous song?
- His biggest hits include “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “The Sound of Silence”, “Graceland”, and “You Can Call Me Al” (Billboard)
- He has won 16 Grammy Awards for his solo and duo work (Paul Simon Official Site)
How many songs has Paul Simon written?
- He has written hundreds of songs across his career, with at least 12 studio albums as a solo artist and 5 with Simon & Garfunkel (People)
The implication: Simon’s catalog is so deep that even casual listeners know a handful of classics, but his most enduring work — “Bridge Over Troubled Water” — remains a cultural touchstone more than 50 years after its release.
Timeline: Paul Simon’s life and career
- 1941 — Born in Newark, New Jersey (Paul Simon Official Site)
- 1957 — Forms Tom & Jerry with Art Garfunkel (Billboard)
- 1964 — First album as Simon & Garfunkel (People)
- 1970 — Bridge Over Troubled Water released (Paul Simon Official Site)
- 1981 — Begins collaboration with South African musicians on Graceland (Billboard)
- 1990s — Hearing loss in left ear begins (Paul Simon Official Site)
- 2018 — Announces retirement from touring (Paul Simon Official Site)
- 2023 — Album Seven Psalms released (Paul Simon Official Site)
- 2024 — Resumes limited live performances (LiveNOW from FOX)
- 2025 — Announces summer tour for 2026 (Paul Simon Official Site)
“Two years ago I thought I would never perform again due to severe hearing loss.”
— Paul Simon, as reported by Consequence (music news outlet, via Facebook)
“I was a fool. I let the rift happen.”
— Art Garfunkel, as reported by People
“He was the love of my life.”
— Carrie Fisher on Paul Simon, as reported by Billboard
For Simon, the consequence of his health battles is that he now performs on his own terms — smaller rooms, adapted sound, shorter runs. For fans, the choice is clear: catch him while you can, because nothing is guaranteed.
Simon named the consequence: his career continues but with constant adaptation.
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Frequently asked questions
How old is Paul Simon?
Paul Simon was born October 13, 1941, making him 83 as of 2025.
Where does Paul Simon live?
He resides primarily in New York City and has a home in Connecticut.
Is Paul Simon still performing?
Yes, he resumed performing in 2024 and announced a 2025 tour, though he canceled two shows in June 2025 for back surgery.
What is Paul Simon’s hearing loss cause?
The exact cause has not been publicly specified, but he has severe hearing loss in his left ear that began in the 1990s.
Did Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel perform together recently?
No, their last joint performance was in 2003 at a concert that ended in a falling out.
Who is Paul Simon’s wife?
He has been married to singer-songwriter Edie Brickell since 1992.
How many children does Paul Simon have?
He has three children: one daughter (Harper) from his first marriage, and two sons (Adrian and Lulu) with Edie Brickell.
What is Paul Simon’s net worth?
Estimates place it around $60 million, but no official figure has been confirmed.
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Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.