Neil Diamond has made a rare post-retirement live performance at a Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball game, singing his classic song 'Sweet Caroline'.
In 2018, Diamond announced he would no longer be touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. However, the singer-songwriter seemed in great spirits at the ball game, belting out the 1969 tune with all his heart and the whole stadium singing along.
'Sweet Caroline' is a staple at Red Sox games, as it has been played during the eighth inning of every game at the historical Fenway Park since 2002.
The singer-songwriter has performed the certified platinum song several times at the stadium. He sang it on opening day of the 2010 MLB season, and in 2013 he led the crowd in a performance of a song as a tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, which had occurred several days earlier.
After the bombing, the song received a 600% uptick in sales going from 2,800 the week before, to 19,000. Diamond donated the royalties from the sales to a charity assisting those affected by the bombing.
In 2019, the song was recognised by the Library of Congress for its cultural significance leading it to be preserved in the National Recording Registry, which holds songs that capture the essence of life in the United States.