Neil Diamond Reveals Identity of 'Sweet Caroline'

Posted on Nov 20th 2007 4:00PM by Gaylord Fields
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The song is a constant on oldies radio, in karaoke bars and at sporting events throughout the U.S. But none of those countless thousands of people belting out Neil Diamond's 1969 pop classic 'Sweet Caroline' have had an inkling that the Caroline whose name they warble off-key is an actual person. The 66-year-old singer-songwriter, after years of keeping mum, has finally divulged the identity of the dulcet woman of the song's title. Sweet Caroline is, in fact, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, daughter of President John F. Kennedy.

"I've never discussed it with anybody before -- intentionally," Diamond said about the song. "I thought maybe I would tell it to Caroline when I met her someday." He finally got his chance to inform his muse that she was the inspiration for one of his most enduring songs when he performed it for her 50th birthday celebration a week ago.

Diamond further reflects on the tune, which he says he wrote in a Memphis hotel in about an hour, spurred on by a picture of young Caroline he saw in a magazine. "It was a No. 1 record and probably is the biggest, most important song of my career, and I have to thank her for the inspiration," he said. "I'm happy to have gotten it off my chest and to have expressed it to Caroline. I thought she might be embarrassed, but she seemed to be struck by it and really, really happy."

Watch 'Sweet Caroline' at Sessions

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