WATCH: Neil Diamond’s surprise ‘Sweet Caroline’ performance for Boston fans

Baseball fans who attended the Boston Red Sox game on Saturday, June 18 at Fenway Park were treated to a sweet surprise from Neil Diamond, who gave a rare live performance of his hit song Sweet Caroline.

While Diamond, who was forced into retirement after his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2018, is known to make the occasional post-retirement performance, Saturday’s appearance was definitely one for the books as it marked the first time Diamond had performed at Fernway Park since 2013.

Diamond had performed the song ahead of the Red Sox’s first home game in 2013 after the horrific Boston Marathon Bombing and donated the royalties from the track to One Fund Boston to help those affected by the attack.

 

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Diamond’s most recent performance was shared by Fox Sports on Twitter where the 81-year-old can be seen enthusiastically singing along to his hit classic while sporting a Boston Red Sox cap and letterman jacket.

Neil Diamond singing “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway Park is incredible ???? ???? pic.twitter.com/P1yRDJR5ho

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 19, 2022

Sweet Caroline has been played at every Boston Red Sox home game for 25 years, ultimately leading the revival of the 1969 single, with other sporting teams picking up a similar ritual including NFL’s Carolina Panthers who hold a Sweet Caroline sing-a-long during every game.

The use of the catchy pop song has also become a stadium anthem for English football fans after they adopted the American song as their team’s unofficial victory hymn in the Euro 2020 semi-final.

Diamond had first announced his retirement from live performances in 2018 after cancelling his Australian and New Zealand tours, but he made it clear he would “remain active in writing, recording and other projects for a long time to come.”

“This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good’ thanks to you,” he had written on his website.

Although he has only made infrequent live appearances since, fans of the singing sensation will soon be able to watch the broadway portrayal of his life.

Neil Diamond fans need to know: A Beautiful Noise, the #Broadway-bound musical about the life of Neil Diamond opens next week. It’s directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Hedwig and the Angry Inch). @EmColonial #NeilDiamond pic.twitter.com/9o6iczg3cS

— Keith Tomasek (@FestivalReviews) June 14, 2022

A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical is scheduled to begin its world premiere on June 21 at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre, with preview performances beginning on November 2 ahead of its official opening night on December 4 at Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre.

The broadway adaptation of Diamond’s life will include a score of his most beloved songs including Cracklin’ Rosie, Song Sung Blue, America, Cherry, Cherry and You Don’t Bring Me Flowers. The adaptation features a cast led by Tony Award nominee Will Swenson, who plays a young version of Diamond.