During the luminous decades of the 1960s and 1970s, Carly Simon stood at the summit of musical brilliance, her voice echoing across generations and weaving itself into the very fabric of cultural memory. Her journey through those golden years was gilded with success, artistry, and acclaim—an era she can revisit with pride, knowing her legacy is etched in permanence.
Yet today, she finds herself navigating one of life’s most brutal chapters—a sorrow so immense, it overshadows even the brightest moments of her past. The spotlight dims in comparison to the grief she now endures.
When we lose someone dear, it often feels as though a sliver of our own soul slips away with them. But to endure the passing of not one, but two siblings within the span of a single week—that level of sorrow defies imagination. Tragically, this was the heart-wrenching reality for Carly Simon.
As confirmed by a representative speaking to Fox News Digital, both of Carly’s beloved sisters succumbed to cancer, their departures separated by only a single day.
Music ran through the veins of the Simon family, and both sisters carved their own harmonies into the industry. Lucy Simon, aged 82, passed away at her residence in Piermont, New York.
Known for her evocative work as a composer on Broadway, Lucy scored acclaimed musicals such as The Secret Garden (1991) and Doctor Zhivago (2011). Her musical journey began alongside Carly, forming a duo during their teenage years that set the foundation for their artistic legacies. Lucy’s battle ended with Stage 4 breast cancer, a foe she faced with unwavering grace.
Joanna Simon—once a commanding voice on the operatic stage and a sharp mind in journalism—breathed her last on October 19, 2022, in Manhattan, following a battle with thyroid cancer. She passed just one day shy of her 86th birthday, her curtain call arriving quietly yet profoundly.
In a deeply moving statement shared via Fox News, Carly Simon addressed the aching void left behind by her sisters’ departures: “My heart is heavy with the grief of losing Joanna and Lucy. Their absence will echo endlessly. Yet, even in mourning, I find it impossible not to also celebrate the radiance of the lives they so richly lived.”
Lucy Simon, the most widely recognized among Carly’s siblings, left her own indelible print on the musical world. A Tony Award nominee for her exquisite score of The Secret Garden, Lucy’s artistry shimmered on Broadway stages.
Carly, reflecting on their early days together on her website, recalled a simpler time steeped in youthful dreams and shared melodies: she and Lucy, self-taught on just three chords, thumbing rides to Provincetown, Massachusetts in the summer of ’64—two sisters chasing music with wild hearts and open roads.
Calling themselves The Simon Sisters, Carly and Lucy found their early footing in a modest local bar known as The Moors, where their voices wove together in harmony over a blend of traditional folk tunes and original compositions. It was there, in the dim glow of quiet stages, that their musical journey truly took shape.
During the 1960s, the duo released three albums, their melodies echoing through a changing era. Eventually, Lucy chose a different path, stepping away from the spotlight to marry David Levine. Together, they crafted magic of a different kind—producing two Grammy-winning children’s albums: In Harmony and In Harmony 2.
Lucy and David’s union endured a remarkable 55 years, a testament to steadfast love. They raised two children, Julie and James, as part of their enduring legacy.
Meanwhile, Joanna Simon—eldest of the Simon siblings—was cultivating her own career in the rarefied world of opera. She debuted in 1962 in New York City, captivating audiences with her refined mezzo-soprano voice, described as “smoky” and rich with emotional depth.
Joanna’s illustrious tenure saw her performing with the likes of the New York Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra—her voice soaring within hallowed concert halls across the globe. Her artistry was both commanding and elegant, a voice not merely heard, but deeply felt.
By 1992, Joanna Simon had closed the curtain on her illustrious music career and pivoted into a new realm—real estate. According to Fox News, she began a fresh chapter as a broker, navigating the complexities of property deals with the same poise she once brought to the opera stage.
In 1976, Joanna married Gerald Walker, a respected editor for The New York Times Magazine. Their bond endured until his passing in 2004. Following his death, she found companionship once more—this time with the legendary journalist Walter Cronkite.
The Simon legacy, however, traces back to more than just melodies and manuscripts. Carly and her sisters were born into a family steeped in influence. Their father, Richard Simon, co-founded the iconic publishing house Simon & Schuster, a cornerstone of American literature. Their mother, Andrea, was a voice of social change—a civil rights advocate and a singer whose passion resonated beyond the stage.
In a reflection as poetic as it is heart-rending, Carly expressed the magnitude of her loss:
“We were three sisters who not only took turns blazing trails and charting new paths, but we were each other’s confidantes—keepers of secrets, stewards of shared memory. To suddenly find myself the sole surviving child of Richard and Andrea Simon… there are no words vast enough. They touched countless lives, and those of us still here will carry their essence forward—with enduring love and unwavering reverence.”
My heart and prayers go to Carly. This is very traumatic and heartbreaking! The one consolation is that they both lived long life.