Paul Simon Shares Hearing Loss Update & Reveals Song He Won’t Play Anymore

Paul Simon has spent the last few years searching for answers after suffering from dramatic hearing loss. The legendary singer-songwriter spoke with CBS Mornings correspondent Anthony Mason about his condition in a new interview that aired on the program today.

Simon began to struggle with his hearing while making his latest album, 2023’s Seven Psalms. While Paul Simon wrapped a farewell tour in 2018, he planned to perform one-off concerts sporadically. The hearing loss has led Simon to scrap those plans for the most part.

On September 23, 2024, the 82-year-old musician performed a “Soho Sessions” concert with his longtime collaborator Mark Stewart. Mason’s report features Simon’s return to the stage for a seven-song set, his most substantive performance in over five years. However, Paul still can’t play full shows or be backed by a band. He’s unclear on whether he’ll ever be able to do so again.

“There’s only about 6% [hearing] in my left ear,” Simon told Mason, showing how he uses several speakers while performing.“When the balance is right, I can hear well.”

Many songs in his catalog are well suited for stripped-down environments while others aren’t. “I’m going through my repertoire and reducing a lot of the choices I make to acoustic versions,” Simon said. “It’s all much quieter. It’s not ‘You Can Call Me Al.’ That’s gone. I can’t do that one.”

“You know Matisse, when he was suffering at the end of his life, when he was in bed, he envisioned all these cut-outs and had a great creative period,” Simon added of the “incredibly frustrating” situation. “So I don’t think creativity stops with disability. So far, I haven’t experienced that. And I hope not to.”

After doctor’s initially told Simon there was nothing he could do about the afflication, he learned of scientists working on the condition. Anthony Mason accompanied Paul Simon as he visited the Stanford Initative to Cure Hearing Loss in Palo Alto, California. The solution may not be found in Simon’s lifetime but progress has been made in research and breakthroughs are happening.

Watch CBS Mornings’ profile on Paul Simon below: