6 Jan 2024

Singer Michael Bolton recovering from surgery after brain tumour diagnosis

4:05 pm on 6 January 2024
Singer Michael Bolton attends the 2023 MusiCares Persons of the Year gala honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson at the LA Convention Center in Los Angeles, February 3, 2023.

Michael Bolton at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala at the LA Convention Center in Los Angeles on 3 February 2023. Photo: AFP

American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton has told fans on social media that he is recovering at home after undergoing surgery to treat a brain tumour.

Bolton told followers in a Facebook post that he was required to undergo "immediate surgery" after being diagnosed with a brain tumour prior to the 2023 Christmas holidays.

Seventy-year-old Bolton - who rocketed to worldwide fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s with a series of power ballad chart hits - told fans the surgery had been a success, but he would be taking a break from touring while he recuperated at home.

After an early career as a hard rock performer, Bolton found international fame in the late 1980s with his ARIA chart-topping album Soul Provider.

"For the next couple of months, I will be devoting my time and energy to my recovery, which means I'll have to take a temporary break from touring," Bolton said in the Facebook post.

"It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but have no doubt I am working hard to accelerate my recovery and get back to performing soon.

"I am beyond grateful for all the love and support you have so generously shown me through the years."

Bolton promised to update fans again on his condition as soon as he could.

The record featured the Grammy award-winning ballad How Am I Supposed to Live Without You, which reached number two on the ARIA charts and topped the US Billboard charts. Follow up single How Can We Be Lovers? reached number 3 on both the US and Australian charts.

Bolton found success again in 1993 with the ballad Said I Loved You… But I Lied, again reaching number 3 in the US and Australia.

In recent years, Bolton regained notoriety through his work with American comedy trio The Lonely Island, singing the chorus of their Saturday Night Live-featured song Jack Sparrow, as well as appearing in their 2016 film Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

- This story was first published by the ABC