The 72-year-old musician’s daughter recently disclosed that a fun family night resulted in an unexpected revelation that startled his loved ones and online users.
In an interview with People on April 30, 2025, Michael Bolton’s daughter Taryn Bolton announced that the Grammy-winning singer was given a diagnosis of glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive kind of brain cancer.
The initial indications surfaced on a family outing to bowl shortly after Thanksgiving 2023. Taryn described her father’s habit of bowling out of turn as “super weird.”
Earlier that evening, he had suddenly fallen from his chair. “He fell out of his chair to the left, which is very unusual. He’s super athletic, and he doesn’t drink,” she said. “So he fell, and we were like, ‘What just happened?’”
Despite their worries, Taryn and her sisters, Holly and Isa, first blamed the symptoms—which included nausea and trouble balancing—on stress and fatigue at a charity event in November 2023. Michael continued to be active in his career at the time, going on tour, making a cameo in a movie, and promoting a new album.
That weekend, Michael went to the hospital after getting a really bad headache. A brain tumor discovered via an MRI was completely removed by doctors. Pathology verified that it was glioblastoma (GBM) a week later.
In January 2024, he made the news public by posting on Facebook that the tumor had been found shortly before the holidays. He thanked fans for their ongoing support and announced a brief sabbatical from touring while recuperating at home.
The most prevalent kind of malignant brain tumor in adults, GBM progresses quickly and is challenging to treat, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It has no known treatment, spreads swiftly, and invades healthy brain tissue.
Headaches, memory or speech problems, seizures, and personality changes are some of its typical symptoms. Even though therapies like radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery can prolong longevity and enhance quality of life, cancer nearly always returns.
Memorial Sloan Kettering physician Dr. Ingo Mellinghoff stressed that malignant tumors can potentially cause modest behavioral changes and problems with coordination. Even though many of the indications are subtle, he warned that they shouldn’t be disregarded.
“Speech is pretty sensitive. We all have our speech patterns, and if all of a sudden your friend says, ‘It sounds so strange, and it doesn’t make sense,’ that is definitely something,” he explained.
In October 2024, Michael finished radiation and chemotherapy after his diagnosis. He now receives MRIs every two months due to the high recurrence rate of glioblastoma. In April 2025, his most recent scan revealed no indications that the tumor might recur.
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.”
A third wrote, “Omg this is soo sad 🙏 what a beautiful family God Bless Michael wishing you lots of courage and ❤️ [sic].” Someone else described the diagnosis as “grueling” and sent heartfelt prayers to Bolton and his family.
One internet fan said that his music had influenced his kids’ early years and that it was heartwarming that he was still spending time with them. Another commenter wished him strength and voiced concern for his health. On social media, a fan expressed gratitude after considering the enduring happiness his songs had given to listeners.
Meanwhile, one follower simply shared hope that he would recover fully. Another added, “Dear Michael never give up! Praying for a miracle for you!”
Michael and his family considered how their lives had changed following his diagnosis while social media was flooded with responses. Taryn wasn’t the only one who saw the warning flags. Holly, her sister, remembered an eye-opening moment following Michael’s December 4, 2023, brain surgery.
Their father, still with a powerful voice, started singing as he healed. Unaware of who he was, a nurse inquired as to if anyone else was aware of his ability to sing in that way. It was an unanticipated comfort for Holly and her sisters.
Isa hasn’t made any public statements, but she has continued to be quite active and has stood by Michael with her sisters. At Michael’s longtime residence in Westport, Connecticut, the three have embraced family customs, laughed together, and created new memories.
Michael himself has reflected deeply on the journey. In his People interview, he acknowledged that the treatments have affected his speech, memory, and mobility. Still, he chooses resilience. “Succumbing to the challenge is not an option,” he said. “You’re really quickly drawn into a duel… that’s the way you find out what you’re made of.”
Since receiving his diagnosis, Michael has begun to reevaluate what is truly important. He no longer prioritizes his job but rather wants to provide his daughters with life lessons, love, and support. Additionally, he is considering if he is making the most of his time and how he spends it.
He’s not giving up in spite of everything that’s happening to him. He stated that he is prepared to continue battling and that he still has more to do. Michael wrote in an emotional Facebook post that while it wasn’t easy to publicly share his illness, he hoped it would help others going through similar struggles.
He thanked People for their compassion and credited his fans for giving him strength. “I’ve drawn strength from your encouragement, and I continue to draw strength from it every day as I move forward on this journey,” he wrote.
Michael is not the only well-known person dealing with a diagnosis that could change their life. Recently, actor Eric Dane revealed details of his own health struggle.
Known for his parts in “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” the Hollywood actor disclosed that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In an open interview with People, the announcement was made.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Eric said, sharing the news with quiet courage. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.” At 52, he faces the disease alongside his wife, Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters, Billie Beatrice, 15 and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
For them, this moment is deeply personal. But Eric also knows the spotlight doesn’t dim easily. He’s not stepping away. “I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working,” he added. “And am looking forward to returning to set of ‘Euphoria’ next week.”
A progressive neurological condition is ALS. It targets the brain and spinal cord’s motor neurons, which are nerve cells that regulate voluntary muscles. These muscles are in charge of routine functions like breathing, talking, and walking.
Signals from the brain cannot reach the muscles when the motor neurons degrade and die. Muscle weakening, twitching, and eventually fading away are the outcomes. ALS patients eventually lose their independence in breathing, eating, speaking, and moving.
Although people with ALS develop at varying speeds, the illness is unforgiving. After symptoms start, most patients survive for three to five years. Only about 10% of people survive for ten years or more.
There isn’t a cure as of now. Nothing now prevents or reverses the condition, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a number of drugs that may lessen symptoms or halt the decline.
The diagnosis signals the start of a challenging journey for Eric. His personal life has also taken an unexpected and hopeful turn as he deals with the uncertainties of ALS.
Rebecca filed to have the couple’s lengthy divorce dismissed only last month, in March. People was able to get court documents that show the request was made seven years after she first filed. She and Eric both signed the documents to formally put the proceedings on hold on March 6.
Their history spans over twenty years. After meeting in 2003, they were married in a ceremony held in Las Vegas the following year. Rebecca claimed irreconcilable differences as the reason for her divorce filing in 2018. She asked for spousal support and joint custody of their daughters.
At the time, Eric issued a joint statement: “After 14 years together we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family… We will continue our friendship and work as a team to co-parent our two beautiful girls.”
The legal process persisted, but their relationship endured. The two maintained respectful co-parenting over the years. The court even warned of delays in divorce finalization in 2019. However, neither seemed to hasten the split.
Rather, they emphasized family time. They visited France in 2022 with their daughters. They took a trip to Cabo together a year later. The family was seen having a Hawaiian beach vacation around December 2024.
Now that the divorce has been formally put on hold, the couple seems to be resuming their relationship at a time when unity, love, and support are more important than ever.
Long before “Euphoria,” Eric made his mark on “Grey’s Anatomy” as Dr. Mark Sloan, better known to fans as “McSteamy.” But behind the confidence of his character was a man quietly unraveling.
In a revealing interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, Eric reflected on his departure from the Shondaland medical drama. “I didn’t leave so much as I was let go,” he said, linking his exit to a difficult battle with addiction.
Before appearing on the show in 2006, he had been clean for almost four years, but pressure and celebrity caused him to relapse. Additionally, it was more difficult to keep clean due to the increasing pressures of celebrity life.
Still, he doesn’t believe addiction was the reason he was let go, but it complicated things. “They didn’t let me go because of that, although it definitely didn’t help,” he explained. Instead, he pointed to the economics of television, where actors who spend a significant amount of time on a show eventually become very expensive for the network.
Eric pointed out that the network probably thought the show would succeed no matter which supporting cast members were left, stating that Meredith Grey, the primary character, was all that was really needed.
At the end of the day, he left quietly. According to Eric, it was a subliminal indication that he was just not coming back, not a formal dismissal.
However, he acknowledged that he understood why things ended the way they did and that he had a great deal of respect for showrunner Shonda Rhimes for vigorously defending the cast in both public and private settings.
The encounter was a turning point in his life. Since then, his candor regarding addiction, the demands of celebrity, and personal growth has come to define his path, which is currently entering a new and uncertain phase.
Eric had experienced a health scare previously. He noticed what looked like cracked lips in the mirror back in 2008, during an industry strike, and used his rare leisure time to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The dermatologist identified the lesion as cancerous tissue brought on by years of sun exposure, he subsequently told OK! magazine.
California-raised Eric described how much time he spent surfing and skiing before he understood the value of sun protection. In order to treat the region, the dermatologist used liquid nitrogen to burn off the cancer. To remove any leftover aberrant cells, a follow-up cream was used; however, the reaction was strong.
His lips were sore and swollen after the therapy, which made eating challenging. He consequently lost weight and had a difficult recuperation. Nevertheless, he claimed that the short-term discomfort was worth it to avert more severe outcomes.
However, his representatives intervened to provide clarification shortly after the story went viral. They emphasized to Access Hollywood that Eric did not have skin cancer, even though they confirmed that he had malignant tissue removed. They claimed that the cover of OK magazine was a “misrepresentation” of the truth.
Now that he has been diagnosed with ALS, Eric Dane must face a diagnosis that will change his life. However, he approaches it with the same candor, fortitude, and quiet strength of someone who understands how to persevere as he has in the past.
