Introduction:
“One last time, I will sing for the dreamers…”
With tears in his eyes and a voice still carrying the warmth and depth of decades on stage, Neil Diamond has announced what will be the final chapter of his touring career. In 2025, the legendary singer-songwriter will embark on “One Last Ride” — an emotional, soul-stirring revival that promises to resurrect the timeless spirit of his music in a way fans have never experienced before.
This will not be just another concert series. For Diamond, now in his mid-80s, this tour is a farewell — not only to the road, but to the countless nights of shared songs, standing ovations, and unspoken connections with audiences around the world.
In a deeply personal twist, Neil Diamond revealed that the setlist will open with the very first song that began his career — the tender, heartfelt “What Will I Do” (1962). It’s the song that first carried him from the streets of Brooklyn to the spotlight, and now, after more than six decades, it will carry him onto the stage for the last time.
“From 1962 to 2025 — that song has been with me every step of the way,” Diamond said in a brief but emotional statement. “It’s the beginning and the end, and I want to share that full circle with the people who’ve been with me all these years.”
“One Last Ride” will not be about grand spectacle alone. While there will be the familiar anthems — “Sweet Caroline,” “I Am… I Said,” “Song Sung Blue,” “Cracklin’ Rosie” — Diamond has promised an intimacy to these shows, bringing stories, memories, and a few surprises to the stage. It’s a chance for fans not only to hear the songs, but to understand the heart that wrote them.
The announcement has already stirred an emotional wave across social media, with fans sharing memories of their first Neil Diamond concert, the moments when his songs became the soundtrack to their lives, and the deep gratitude for a career that has spanned more than 60 years.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018, Diamond retired from extensive touring soon after. His rare appearances in the years since — including a surprise performance at a Red Sox game and select benefit events — have only deepened the longing among fans to see him on stage one last time. “One Last Ride” is his answer to that call, a final gift to the people who have stood with him through every era of his music.
The tour dates and venues have now been revealed, stretching across major cities in the United States and select international stops. Each show will be a celebration, a farewell, and, in Diamond’s own words, “a thank-you — for the dream we shared.”
For those lucky enough to be in the audience, it won’t just be a concert. It will be a moment in history — the last bow of one of music’s most enduring voices, and a reminder that while the road may end, the songs will never stop playing.