Details About Michael Bolton’s Very Rare Diagnosis Revealed – What We Know

Michael Bolton’s daughter, Taryn Bolton, confirmed in an April 30, 2025, interview with People that doctors diagnosed the Grammy-winning singer with glioblastoma — a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

The first signs appeared just after Thanksgiving 2023, during a night out bowling with family. Taryn said her father kept bowling out of turn — something she called “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 concern, Taryn and her sisters, Holly and Isa, initially attributed the symptoms, including nausea and balance issues during a November 2023 charity event, to exhaustion and stress. At the time, Michael remained professionally active, touring, filming a movie cameo, and promoting a new album.

When Michael developed a severe headache that weekend, he went to the hospital. An MRI revealed a brain tumor, which surgeons removed entirely. A week later, pathology confirmed it was glioblastoma (GBM).

He shared the news publicly in January 2024, explaining in a Facebook post that the tumor had been discovered just before the holidays. While recovering at home, he announced a temporary break from touring and thanked fans for their continued support.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, GBM is the most common type of malignant brain tumor in adults and one of the most rapidly progressing and difficult to treat. It grows quickly, invades healthy brain tissue, and has no known cure.

Its common symptoms include headaches, speech or memory issues, seizures, and personality changes. While treatment such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can extend survival and improve quality of life, the cancer almost always recurs.

Dr. Ingo Mellinghoff of Memorial Sloan Kettering emphasized that these tumors may also lead to coordination issues and subtle behavioral changes. He cautioned that while many signs are subtle, they shouldn’t be ignored.

“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.

Following his diagnosis, Michael completed chemotherapy and radiation in October 2024. Because glioblastoma has a high recurrence rate, he now undergoes MRIs every two months. His most recent scan, in April 2025, showed no signs of the tumor returning.

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.

A fan online found it touching that he was still spending time with his children, adding that his music had shaped their youth. Another commenter expressed concern for his health and wished him strength. A supporter on social media reflected on the lasting joy his songs had brought to listeners and offered words of thanks.

Meanwhile, one follower simply shared hope that he would recover fully. Another added, “Dear Michael never give up! Praying for a miracle for you!”

As reactions poured in across social media, Michael and his family reflected on how their lives changed after his diagnosis. Taryn wasn’t alone in noticing early signs. Her sister, Holly, recalled a striking moment after Michael’s brain surgery on December 4, 2023.

As he recovered, their father began singing — his voice still strong. A nurse, unaware of who he was, asked if others knew he could sing like that. For Holly and her sisters, it was a moment of unexpected relief.

Though Isa hasn’t spoken publicly, she has remained deeply involved, supporting Michael alongside her sisters. The three have leaned into moments of lightness — sharing laughter, embracing family traditions, and making new memories at Michael’s longtime home in Westport, Connecticut.

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 his diagnosis, Michael has started thinking differently about what really matters. Instead of focusing on his career, he now wants to give his daughters things they can carry with them — like love, support, and life lessons. He’s also thinking more about how he spends his time and whether he’s making the most of it.

Even with everything he’s facing, he’s not giving up. He said there’s still more he wants to do, and he’s ready to keep fighting. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Michael said sharing his diagnosis publicly wasn’t easy, but he hoped it might comfort others facing similar challenges.

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 isn’t the only public figure confronting a life-altering diagnosis. Actor Eric Dane has also recently shared news of his own health battle.

The Hollywood actor, known for his roles in “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” revealed he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The announcement came in a candid interview with People.

“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.”

ALS is a progressive neurological disorder. It attacks motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscles. These are the muscles responsible for everyday actions like walking, talking, and even breathing.

As the motor neurons break down and die, the brain’s signals can no longer reach the muscles. The result is muscle weakness, twitching, and eventually, wasting away. Over time, those with ALS lose the ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe on their own.

While ALS progresses at different rates, the condition is relentless. Most patients live three to five years after symptoms begin. A small percentage, around 10, live for ten years or longer.

Currently, there is no known cure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several medications that may slow the decline or ease symptoms, but nothing yet stops or reverses the disease.

For Eric, the diagnosis marks the beginning of a difficult path. As he faces the uncertainty of ALS, his personal life has also taken a surprising and hopeful turn.

Just last month, in March, Rebecca filed to dismiss the couple’s long-standing divorce. According to court documents obtained by People, the request came seven years after she initially filed. On March 6, both she and Eric signed the paperwork to officially pause the process.

Their story goes back more than two decades. They met in 2003 and were married the following year in a Las Vegas ceremony. In 2018, Rebecca filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. She requested joint custody of their daughters and spousal support.

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.”

Though the legal process lingered, the bond between them remained. Over the years, the two continued co-parenting with mutual respect. In 2019, the court even issued warnings about delays in finalizing the divorce. But neither appeared to rush the separation.

Instead, they leaned into family moments. In 2022, they traveled with their daughters to France. A year later, they vacationed together in Cabo. By December 2024, the family was spotted enjoying a beach getaway in Hawaii.

Now, with the divorce officially shelved, the couple appears to be giving their relationship another chance at a moment when love, support, and unity matter more 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.

Though he had been sober for about four years before joining the show in 2006, fame and pressure led him to relapse. Plus, the growing demands of celebrity life made staying clean harder.

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 noted that the network likely believed the show would continue to succeed regardless of which supporting cast members remained, saying it only truly needed its central character, Meredith Grey.

Ultimately, his departure was a quiet one. Eric said it wasn’t a ceremonious firing, but rather a subtle message that he was simply not returning.

Still, he expressed deep respect for showrunner Shonda Rhimes for protecting the cast fiercely, both publicly and privately, and he understood why things ended the way they did.

For him, the experience marked a turning point. His openness about addiction, the pressures of fame, and personal transformation has since become a defining part of his journey—a journey now facing a new and uncertain chapter.

This isn’t the first time Eric has faced a health scare. Back in 2008, during an industry strike, he took the rare free time to schedule a dermatologist visit after noticing what appeared to be chapped lips in the mirror. He later told OK! magazine that the dermatologist diagnosed the spot as malignant tissue caused by years of sun exposure.

Eric, who grew up in California, recounted how much time he spent skiing and surfing before realizing the importance of sun protection. The dermatologist treated the area by burning off the malignancy with liquid nitrogen. A follow-up cream was used to eradicate any remaining abnormal cells — but the reaction was severe.

The treatment left his lips inflamed and painful, making it difficult to eat. As a result, he lost weight and endured a rough recovery. Still, he said the temporary pain was worth avoiding more serious consequences.

However, not long after the story circulated, his representatives stepped in to clarify. While confirming that Eric had malignant tissue removed, they stressed to Access Hollywood that he did not have skin cancer. The OK magazine cover, they said, was a “misrepresentation” of the facts.

Now, facing ALS, Eric Dane once again finds himself confronting a life-altering diagnosis. But as with his earlier battles, he meets it with openness, resilience, and the quiet strength of someone who knows how to endure.