Details About Michael Bolton’s Very Rare Diagnosis Revealed — What We Know
The daughter of the 72-year-old musician recently revealed that a lively family evening led to a discovery that shocked both his loved ones and netizens.
Michael Bolton’s daughter, Taryn Bolton, confirmed in a recent interview with People that doctors diagnosed her father with glioblastoma — a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.
The diagnosis followed a series of unusual incidents during a family bowling night just after Thanksgiving 2023. Michael bowled out of turn multiple times, which immediately concerned his family. “That was when we were like, ‘Something’s wrong with his brain,'” Taryn said.
Michael Bolton attends the Build Series at Build Studio in New York City on February 8, 2017 | Source: Getty Images
Earlier that evening, he had fallen from a chair — something uncharacteristic for the athletic and sober performer — and later developed a severe headache.
Despite remaining active with concerts, a new album, and a movie cameo, Michael had also experienced nausea and balance issues at a charity event weeks earlier. His daughters initially attributed the symptoms to stress and exhaustion.
When he underwent an MRI the following Monday, doctors found a brain tumor. Surgeons removed it entirely, and a week later, pathology confirmed it was glioblastoma. Dr. Ingo Mellinghoff of Memorial Sloan Kettering explained that symptoms such as personality changes, loss of coordination, and altered speech can indicate a brain tumor, though they’re often mistaken for other issues.
Following the diagnosis, Michael completed chemotherapy and radiation in October 2024. He now undergoes bimonthly MRIs. His April scan showed no signs of recurrence.
Online, fans shared messages of support. One netizen said, “Could tell there was something wrong for a good while. Prayers.” Another commented, “When he was on the sherri show [sic]. I knew something was up. He was not himself.”
