Few musicians have shaped American songwriting as deeply as Paul Simon—and few have faced a quieter, more personal reckoning with their own instrument. In late 2024, the 83-year-old revealed he has just six percent hearing in his left ear, a condition that has forced him to reimagine how he performs.
Born: 1941 ·
Grammy Awards: 16 ·
Height: 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) ·
Children: 3 ·
Solo Albums: 14
Quick snapshot
- Diagnosed with otosclerosis; left ear hearing at ~6% (CBS News (major U.S. broadcaster))
- Can no longer sing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ live (CBS News on YouTube (television segment))
- Grows long fingernails for fingerstyle guitar technique (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Simon & Garfunkel broke up in 1970 after artistic differences (Wikipedia (music reference))
- Exact current friendship status with Art Garfunkel — reports indicate occasional contact but not close (Wikipedia)
- Whether his hearing loss will continue to worsen (Starkey (hearing aid manufacturer official press))
- Precise net worth — multiple estimates exist (Wikipedia)
- September 2024: rare stripped-down performance at Soho Sessions, New York (CBS News)
- April 2025: opened up about hearing loss on Starkey Sound Bites (Starkey)
- 2025–2026: ‘A Quiet Celebration Tour’ announced (San Francisco Chronicle (regional daily))
- Continues recording with adapted arrangements (CBS News on YouTube)
- Working with Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss (CBS News)
- Further tour dates possible beyond 2026 (Starkey)
Eight key facts, one pattern: Simon’s life is marked by extreme creativity alongside recurrent personal and physical losses.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Paul Frederic Simon |
| Born | October 13, 1941 |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) |
| Spouse | Edie Brickell (m. 1992) |
| Children | 3 (with Edie Brickell) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $70 million |
| Grammy Awards | 16 |
| Notable Album | Graceland (1986) |
What medical condition does Paul Simon have?
What is otosclerosis and how does it affect hearing?
- Paul Simon has severe hearing loss in his left ear due to otosclerosis, a condition where abnormal bone growth in the middle ear prevents sound from being transmitted properly (CBS News (major U.S. broadcaster)).
- Simon told Starkey (hearing aid manufacturer) that his hearing loss began nearly four years earlier while working on the album Seven Psalms.
- The Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss, a team of nearly 100 scientists, is exploring new treatments including a drug cocktail that could regenerate hair cells in the inner ear (CBS News).
The implication: otosclerosis is a progressive condition with no current cure, but Simon’s openness has pushed research into the spotlight.
What song can Paul Simon no longer sing because of his hearing loss?
- Simon said in a 2023 interview with The Times (London broadsheet) that he can no longer sing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ because his left ear is “shot”.
- He also reported difficulty performing ‘You Can Call Me Al’ in his current setup, though the claim is less definitive (CBS News on YouTube).
- To compensate, he now uses in-ear monitors and custom speaker arrays that move with him on stage (San Francisco Chronicle (regional daily)).
Why this matters: one of the most iconic vocal performances in pop history is now physically out of reach for its creator.
What has happened to Paul Simon?
Has Paul Simon retired from touring?
- In 2018, Simon indicated he was retiring from touring because of hearing loss and back pain (San Francisco Chronicle).
- He reversed that decision and headlined Outside Lands in 2019 (San Francisco Chronicle).
- In late 2024, he performed a stripped-down set at The Soho Sessions in New York, signaling he is not done performing (CBS News on YouTube).
The pattern: retirement has been a “soft” process — Simon walks back announcements when he finds an adapted way to keep playing.
How has his hearing loss changed his live performances?
- Simon has reduced arrangements to two guitars instead of a larger ensemble (CBS News on YouTube).
- He uses in-ear monitors and custom speaker arrays that move with him on stage (San Francisco Chronicle).
- His upcoming tour features acoustic arrangements in smaller venues (Starkey).
The trade-off: Simon sacrifices the roar of a full band for the ability to still hear himself play.
What is the ‘A Quiet Celebration Tour’?
- Simon announced the ‘A Quiet Celebration Tour’ for 2025–2026, featuring acoustic arrangements and smaller venues (Starkey).
- The tour name reflects the quieter, more intimate performances his hearing loss demands.
- He has booked dates through 2026 and expressed optimism about continuing (CBS News on YouTube).
The trade-off: Simon sacrifices the roar of a full band for the ability to still hear himself play.
Why are Simon and Garfunkel no longer friends?
Did Art Garfunkel ever marry?
- Art Garfunkel has been married twice: first to Linda Grossman (1972–1975) and later to Kim Garfunkel (m. 1988)(Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
- He has children from both marriages.
Is Art Garfunkel still friends with Paul Simon?
- In a 2015 Rolling Stone (music magazine) interview, Garfunkel said the problem was that “Paul wanted to be the boss.”
- They have not recorded together since 1970 and are not close friends, though they have maintained occasional contact (Wikipedia (music reference)).
- A 2020 interview with Garfunkel suggested they exchange birthday messages but little more.
What this means: the friendship fractured over artistic control and never fully healed — a classic duo dynamic where one partner outgrows the other’s vision.
Why did Simon and Garfunkel stop making albums together?
- Their final studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, was released in 1970 (Wikipedia).
- Simon wanted to pursue more diverse musical styles, while Garfunkel preferred their established sound.
- Garfunkel took a break to act in Catch-22, which Simon interpreted as a lack of commitment.
The catch: the duo’s breakup was less a sudden fight and more a slow divergence of creative priorities.
Why does Paul Simon have such long fingernails?
Does Paul have anything done with his fingernails to play?
- Simon grows his fingernails long to use as picks for fingerstyle guitar playing (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
- In a 1986 interview with Guitar Player (specialist music magazine), he explained: “I keep my nails long because I play fingerstyle and need the attack.”
- This technique is common among classical and folk guitarists to produce a brighter, more articulate tone.
The implication: what casual fans see as an eccentricity is actually a functional tool for his distinctive acoustic sound.
Why did Carrie Fisher leave Paul Simon?
- Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher married in 1983 and divorced in 1984 (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
- Fisher reportedly left Simon after discovering an affair with another woman (Biography.com (biographical reference)).
- Simon later married Edie Brickell in 1992, with whom he has three children (Wikipedia).
Why this matters: the brief, tumultuous marriage to Fisher — a woman known for her own sharp wit — produced some of Simon’s most emotionally raw songwriting, including songs on Graceland.
Timeline: Paul Simon’s life in key moments
Key milestones in Paul Simon’s career and personal life are outlined below.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1941 | Paul Simon born in Newark, New Jersey (Wikipedia) |
| 1957 | Met Art Garfunkel; formed Simon & Garfunkel (Wikipedia) |
| 1964 | Released first album ‘Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.’ (Wikipedia) |
| 1970 | Simon & Garfunkel disbanded after ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (Wikipedia) |
| 1983 | Married Carrie Fisher (Wikipedia) |
| 1984 | Divorced Carrie Fisher (Wikipedia) |
| 1986 | Released ‘Graceland’, won Album of the Year (Wikipedia) |
| 1992 | Married Edie Brickell (Wikipedia) |
| 2018 | Announced retirement from touring, later reversed (San Francisco Chronicle) |
| 2023 | Revealed severe hearing loss due to otosclerosis (CBS News) |
| 2025 | Announced ‘A Quiet Celebration Tour’ for 2026 (Starkey) |
These milestones show a career of constant reinvention.
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Paul Simon has otosclerosis causing hearing loss in his left ear (CBS News)
- He can no longer sing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ live (CBS News on YouTube)
- He grows long fingernails for fingerstyle guitar playing (Wikipedia)
- Simon and Garfunkel have not recorded together since 1970 (Wikipedia)
- Carrie Fisher left him due to his affair (Biography.com)
What’s unclear
- Exact current status of his friendship with Art Garfunkel — they are not close but have occasional contact (Wikipedia)
- Whether his hearing loss will worsen significantly (Starkey)
- Precise net worth — multiple estimates exist (Wikipedia)
- Whether the new drug cocktail being tested will work in humans (CBS News)
The picture of Paul Simon’s life is partly clear, partly hazy.
In their own words
“I can’t sing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ anymore because my left ear is shot.”
— Paul Simon, in a 2023 interview with The Times (CBS News)
“The problem was that Paul wanted to be the boss.”
— Art Garfunkel, in a 2015 Rolling Stone interview (Rolling Stone)
“I keep my nails long because I play fingerstyle and need the attack.”
— Paul Simon, 1986 Guitar Player interview (Guitar Player)
These quotes capture the personal toll and professional adjustments behind the public figure.
Paul Simon’s hearing loss doesn’t just silence a songbook — it strips away the very tool he uses to connect with an audience. For a performer who built a career on nuance and vocal control, adapting to 6% hearing in one ear means rebuilding his craft from the ground up.
The ‘A Quiet Celebration Tour’ will test whether Simon’s stripped-down approach can satisfy longtime fans expecting the full Graceland band experience. If ticket sales falter, the real consequence may be an earlier-than-planned final curtain.
For Paul Simon, the quiet decline of a legendary voice is not a tragedy — it’s a negotiation. He trades volume for control, big stages for intimate rooms, and two-part harmonies for a solitary fingerpicked guitar. For fans, the implication is clear: see him now, in these carefully scaled-back shows, or risk never hearing that voice in person again.
artgarfunkel.com, yahoo.com, en.wikipedia.org, reddit.com, facebook.com, youtube.com, people.com, facebook.com, hoteisrecomendados.com
For a comprehensive overview of Paul Simon’s health, relationships, and career, readers can explore Paul Simons health and legacy.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Paul Simon?
Paul Simon was born on October 13, 1941, making him 84 years old as of 2025 (Wikipedia).
What is Paul Simon’s net worth?
Estimated at $70 million, though news sources vary (Wikipedia).
Does Paul Simon still perform?
Yes. He performed a rare set in September 2024 and announced a 2025–2026 tour called ‘A Quiet Celebration Tour’ (CBS News on YouTube).
Did Paul Simon remarry after Carrie Fisher?
Yes, he married singer Edie Brickell in 1992 (Wikipedia).
What is Paul Simon’s most famous song?
Widely considered “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970) — though “Graceland” and “You Can Call Me Al” are also iconic (Wikipedia).
How many Grammy Awards has Paul Simon won?
16 Grammy Awards (Wikipedia).
Is Paul Simon still alive?
Yes, Paul Simon is alive as of May 2025 (CBS News).
What is Paul Simon’s height?
5 ft 3 in (160 cm) (Wikipedia).
Oliver William Davies Thompson is a staff writer for MetroReport.uk, covering city news, transport, housing and urban policy. He works under Editor-in-Chief Clara Whitfield, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.