Singer-Actress Maureen McGovern Reveals Diagnosis With Posterior Cortical Atrophy, Will No Longer Perform In Concert

deadline.com:

Singer-actress Maureen McGovern says she will no longer perform live concerts after being diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy with “symptoms of Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia.”McGovern, who rose to national stardom with her recording of the Al Kasha-Joel Hirschhorn 1972 Oscar-winning song “The Morning After” from the hit disaster film The Poseidon Adventure, revealed the diagnosis in a statement on her official website.However, my life has now taken a different path.

I’ve been diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy with symptoms of Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia.“I can no longer travel or perform in live concerts,” wrote McGovern, who has appeared in four Broadway productions since the 1980s. “In fact, I can no longer drive — how’s that for a kick in the butt?”See her full statement below.In addition to her concert career, McGovern has become a strong advocate for the use of music therapy and says she will continue that work.“For many years, I’ve performed in hospitals, hospices, women’s prison, senior facilities, schools, and the joy of singing with young children,” she writes. “Children’s responses are immediate, unfiltered, and so much fun.

I’ve loved writing songs for kids, and I will continue to do so. And, I will be working to bring more attention and awareness to Music Therapy.”Following McGovern’s breakthrough hit in 1972 – in addition to the song winning an Oscar, she was Grammy-nominated that year for Best New Artist – she recorded another Oscar-winning song with 1975’s “We May Never Love Like This Again” from The Towering Inferno.

She later recorded songs for Superman and the TV series Angie.McGovern made her Broadway debut in 1982 as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance.