Country singer Glen Campbell is planning a few final farewell performances at a handful of venues to cap off his long singing career. The 75-year-old musician has also decided it is time to reveal that he has Alzheimer’s disease.
During his career, spanning 50 years, he released 70 albums and sold 45 million records. His greatest hits include Gentle on My Mind, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, Galveston, Rhinestone Cowboy and Southern Nights.
He has a new song, A Better Place. One telling line of the lyrics sheds some light on his current situation: “I need the ones I love Lord, more and more each day.” The song is personal and is a fitting description of where he’s at in his life.
Glen’s wife Kim said: “Glen is still an awesome guitar player and singer. But if he flubs a lyric or get confused on stage, I wouldn’t want people to think, ‘What’s the matter with him? Is he drunk?'”
Campbell has suffered from short term memory loss for years but wasn’t diagnosed with Alzheimer’s until just six months ago.
Still passionate about what he does, Glen said: “I still love making music. And I still love performing for my fans. I’d like to thank them for sticking with me through thick and thin.”
Married four times, Glen and Kim have been together since 1982. He is the father of eight children.
Check out Glen’s chart topping hit Rhinestone Cowboy video below: