The ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ battles Alzheimer’s

Glen Campbell is fading fast, said Patrick Doyle in Rolling Stone. The singer and guitarist, 75, recently announced that he’s suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s already starting to take his memory. “I do get confused,” he admits. While performing, he has found himself unable to recall some of the lyrics to his 1975 hit, “Rhinestone Cowboy,” which he calls “maybe the best song I’ve ever sung.” He’s now planning to release an album and go on tour as a final chapter in a long musical career.

That career began when he played with such stars as Elvis and Frank Sinatra, and then peaked with a solo career in which he produced several major hits. He even replaced Brian Wilson in the Beach Boys for a while after Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown. Certain periods are fuzzier than others. He doesn’t remember his 16-year marriage to his second wife, Billie Jean Nunley, or his cocaine-fueled nights with singer Tanya Tucker in the ’70s. There are times he can’t even remember that he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. “I don’t even know where that came from. I haven’t been to the doctor in years,” he says. “I guess I’ll wait till it hits me, then.”

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up