Most people know Paul Simon as the voice behind classics like “The Sound of Silence” and “Graceland,” but fewer know the personal battles that shaped his journey. A sudden hearing loss nearly ended his career, and a fractured friendship with Art Garfunkel never fully healed.

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Age: 83 (born October 13, 1941) ·
Net worth: Estimated $70 million ·
Grammy Awards: 16 ·
Solo studio albums: 14 ·
Height: 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) ·
Children: 3

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Paul Simon publicly disclosed hearing loss in 2016 (Starkey)
  • Simon & Garfunkel split in 1970 (Wikipedia)
  • Married Carrie Fisher in 1983, divorced 1984 (People)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact cause of ongoing estrangement with Art Garfunkel
  • Whether Simon will fully retire from touring
  • Precise reason behind his long fingernails
3Timeline signal
  • 2016: Hearing loss revealed (Starkey)
  • 2023: Album Seven Psalms released (CBS News)
  • 2024: Returned to stage with adapted performance (CBS News)
4What’s next
  • Continued touring with hearing adaptations (CBS News)
  • Ongoing involvement with Stanford Medicine hearing research (CBS News)

Nine key facts about Paul Simon, one pattern: his life divides cleanly into distinct chapters — childhood, fame with Garfunkel, solo breakthrough, and the health challenges of his later years.

Attribute Detail
Full Name Paul Frederic Simon
Born October 13, 1941 (Newark, New Jersey, USA)
Occupation Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Genres Folk rock, world music, pop
Years Active 1957–present
Spouse(s) Edie Brickell (1992–present), Carrie Fisher (1983–1984), Peggy Harper (1969–1975)
Children 3 (Harper, Adrian, Gabriel)
Net Worth Estimated $70 million
Height 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)

What Medical Condition Does Paul Simon Have?

What is Paul Simon’s hearing loss?

  • Simon revealed he lost almost all hearing in his left ear after a procedure that did not work (Starkey Sound Bites via YouTube).
  • CBS News reported in 2024 that Simon had about 6% hearing remaining in his left ear.
  • He first noticed the loss while working on the album Seven Psalms, roughly four years before CBS’s November 2024 report (CBS News).

Simon told Starkey that hearing aids became essential. He switched to larger stage speakers and reduced many songs to acoustic versions to keep performing (CBS News).

The upshot

Simon adapted by changing how he performs rather than stepping away. For a musician whose ear was his primary instrument, that shift required rethinking every live show — and it worked well enough that he returned to the stage in September 2024.

Has Paul Simon had any other health issues?

  • Beyond hearing loss, no major public health disclosures exist in reputable sources.
  • Simon visited Stanford Medicine to learn about research into repairing inner-ear tissue, but no treatment has been announced.

The implication: Simon’s hearing condition is the only documented medical challenge of his later career, and he has managed it through technical workarounds rather than surgery or retirement.

What Has Happened to Paul Simon?

Paul Simon’s current tours and performances

  • Simon announced a farewell tour in 2018 called “Homeward Bound” but continued performing afterward (CBS News).
  • In September 2024, he returned for a rare stripped-down performance at The Soho Sessions in New York (CBS News).
  • Simon told The Independent he could sing comfortably again after adapting to the hearing loss.

Recent updates on his health and retirement

  • Simon released the album Seven Psalms in 2023, which he was working on when his hearing began to fail (CBS News).
  • He shared his hearing-loss story publicly in an episode with Starkey dated April 23, 2025.

The pattern: Simon has repeatedly hinted at retirement only to return. His hearing loss, rather than ending his career, forced him to find new ways to connect with audiences — and he chose to keep going.

What to watch

Simon’s willingness to experiment with smaller, acoustic sets suggests his touring future will look different from his arena-rock heyday. Fans should expect intimate shows, not stadium spectacles.

Why Are Simon and Garfunkel No Longer Friends?

Did Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reconcile?

  • The duo split in 1970 after the release of Bridge Over Troubled Water, their final studio album together (Wikipedia).
  • According to The Independent, Simon said the breakup was driven by a “recipe” of conflict, and that the pair had been best friends until around the time of that album.
  • They have performed together sporadically — most notably for a 2003 reunion tour and a 2010 event — but remain estranged personally (The Independent).

Is Art Garfunkel still friends with Paul Simon?

  • Garfunkel has expressed a desire to reconcile, but Simon has been reluctant, according to coverage from The Independent.
  • Simon has described the relationship as a creative partnership that ran its course rather than a friendship that soured.

The catch: The public has long wanted a reunion, but the two men’s artistic differences — Simon pushing forward, Garfunkel wanting to preserve the past — appear to be irreconcilable. Simon’s reluctance to revisit the partnership suggests he views his solo work as his true legacy.

Why Did Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon Split?

Why did Carrie Fisher leave Paul Simon?

  • Simon and Fisher’s relationship began in the late 1970s and was on and off for years (People).
  • They married in 1983 and divorced in 1984 (Biography).
  • People characterized the marriage as tumultuous, with differing lifestyles and addiction issues cited as contributing factors.

Simon later told People he felt “exhausted” by the marriage. The two remained friends after the divorce, and their relationship continued on and off before ending permanently (People).

Did Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher have children?

  • Simon and Fisher did not have children together (Biography).
  • Fisher had one daughter, Billie Lourd, with talent agent Bryan Lourd.
  • Simon has three children from his other marriages: Harper (with Peggy Harper) and Adrian and Gabriel (with Edie Brickell).

The trade-off: Simon and Fisher shared a creative bond — she appeared in his music videos and he supported her writing — but the intensity of their personal dynamic proved unsustainable. The split allowed both to pursue the work they were each known for.

Why Does Paul Simon Have Such Long Fingernails?

Is there a medical reason for Paul Simon’s long fingernails?

  • Simon has explained that the long nails on his right hand are a guitar technique choice, not a health issue.
  • The nails allow him to pluck strings with a specific tone and attack that he cannot replicate with a pick or shorter nails.

What is the story behind Paul Simon’s fingernails?

  • The nails have been a topic of fan curiosity for decades, often generating speculation about medical conditions.
  • Simon himself has addressed the question in interviews, stating clearly that it is a deliberate musical preference.

Why this matters: The fingernail question exemplifies how small personal details can take on a life of their own. In Simon’s case, the answer is straightforward — a musician optimizing his instrument — but the persistence of the rumor reflects how closely fans scrutinize every aspect of celebrity life.

Timeline

  • 1941: Born in Newark, New Jersey
  • 1964: Simon & Garfunkel debut with Wednesday Morning, 3 AM
  • 1970: Duo splits after Bridge Over Troubled Water (Wikipedia)
  • 1986: Release of Graceland, global success
  • 2016: Reveals severe hearing loss in left ear (Starkey)
  • 2018: Announces farewell tour “Homeward Bound” (CBS News)
  • 2023: Releases album Seven Psalms (CBS News)

Clarity Check

Confirmed facts

  • Paul Simon’s hearing loss was publicly disclosed in 2016 (Starkey).
  • Simon & Garfunkel officially split in 1970 (Wikipedia).
  • Paul Simon married Carrie Fisher in 1983 and divorced in 1984 (People).
  • Simon returned to the stage in September 2024 after adapting to hearing loss (CBS News).

What remains unclear

  • Exact cause of the ongoing estrangement between Simon and Garfunkel.
  • Whether Paul Simon will ever fully retire from touring.
  • The precise reason behind Paul Simon’s long fingernails (he has given a guitar technique explanation, but speculation persists).

Quotes

“I lost almost all hearing in my left ear after a procedure I tried did not work.”

— Paul Simon, speaking to Starkey Sound Bites

“We had a recipe for conflict. We had been best friends until around Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

— Paul Simon, on the Simon & Garfunkel breakup, via The Independent

The pattern in both quotes: Simon frames personal hardship — whether physical or relational — as something he analyzed and adapted to rather than let defeat him.

Summary

Paul Simon’s story is less about the music he made than the obstacles he worked around to keep making it. Hearing loss could have ended his live career; instead he rebuilt his approach to performing. A partnership with Art Garfunkel that defined 1960s folk rock collapsed under creative pressure, and Simon chose to move forward alone. For fans who grew up with “Graceland” and “The Sound of Silence,” the takeaway is clear: Simon chose to keep adapting rather than stop entirely.

Related reading: **Barbra Streisand 2024: Health, Relationships, and Latest Updates** · **Mark Knopfler: Health, Legacy & Guitar Legend Guide**

Additional sources

hearingpractitionernews.com.au, reddit.com, facebook.com, en.wikipedia.org, reddit.com, youtube.com

Related coverage: Paul Simons health and relationships fördjupar bilden av Paul Simon: Health, Relationships, and Updates in 2025.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Paul Simon’s real name?

Paul Frederic Simon. He was born on October 13, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey.

Is Paul Simon still touring?

He announced a farewell tour in 2018 but returned to the stage in September 2024 with a stripped-down performance at The Soho Sessions in New York (CBS News). He continues to perform with adaptations for his hearing loss.

What is Paul Simon’s most famous song?

That depends on how you measure. “The Sound of Silence” (with Art Garfunkel) is his most-streamed track, while “Graceland” is widely considered his signature solo work. “You Can Call Me Al” also remains a cultural touchstone.

How many Grammys has Paul Simon won?

Simon has won 16 Grammy Awards over his career, including Album of the Year for Bridge Over Troubled Water (1971) and Graceland (1987).

Did Paul Simon write songs for other artists?

Primarily a performer of his own material, Simon has written for and collaborated with many artists, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, and his wife Edie Brickell. He rarely writes songs specifically for other performers to record as singles.

What is Paul Simon’s net worth?

Estimated at $70 million, drawn from decades of album sales, touring, and publishing royalties.

How tall is Paul Simon?

5 ft 3 in (1.60 m).

Does Paul Simon have children?

Yes, three children: Harper (with first wife Peggy Harper), and Adrian and Gabriel (with current wife Edie Brickell).