Pop icon opens up about fighting lethal brain cancer: ‘I want to keep going’
Micheal Bolton has topped the Billboard Hot 100 , won Grammys and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .
But now, the iconic singer's greatest achievement is playing trivia with his family amid his ongoing battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
"It's unthinkable for it to be okay not to make the most of your life," he said in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE .
"I think we develop capabilities and problem management, and we learn how to make the best out of a bad situation," Bolton said. "You have to be a cheerleader for yourself."
The 72-year-old is fighting glioblastoma — one of the most lethal forms of brain cancer, according to the Glioblastoma Foundation . The cancer starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord before quickly spreading, destroying healthy tissue in the process, according to the Mayo Clinic .
Bolton was diagnosed with glioblastoma after undergoing emergency brain surgery on Dec. 4, 2023, PEOPLE reported. He then had another brain surgery in January 2024 due to an infection. The singer was still feeling the affects of the surgery nearly a year after when he canceled a show in February .
"You all know how much I was looking forward to this show but I am continuing to heal from surgery," Bolton wrote on his Instagram story on Feb. 26. "Thank you for all your love and positive energy over this past year. I am so grateful to have the most supportive fans in the world."
In his interview with PEOPLE, Bolton said battling cancer forced him to channel a strength he never used before.
"You're reaching into your resources and your resolve in a way that you never would have thought," the pop icon said.
"Succumbing to the challenge is not an option. You're really quickly drawn into a duel," Bolton added. "I guess that's the way you find out what you're made of."
Bolton has since finished radiation and chemotherapy. He now has MRIs every two months to ensure the tumor does not come back. Looking back on his journey, Bolton said his diagnosis has given him a new outlook on life.
"It's a reality of mortality. Suddenly a new light has gone on that raises questions, including 'Am I doing the best that I can do with my time?,'" the music legend told PEOPLE.
"I want to keep going. I feel there's still a lot to do on the fight side," he said. "I got a title for a song: 'Ain't Going Down Without a Fight.'"
Bolton was first involved in rock music before switching to pop balladry in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Known for hits such as "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" and "When a Man Loves a Woman," Bolton has sold more than 75 million records, recorded eight top 10 albums and notched seven top 10 hits.
His accolades include two Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards and numerous gold and platinum records.
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Read the original article on MassLive .
