Tony Christie has opened up about living with dementia, revealing he simply “carries on” despite the diagnosis. The 82-year-old music icon, best known for his hit Is This the Way to Amarillo, appeared on Good Morning Britain to speak about his health and his final tour.
Tony, who was diagnosed with the early stages of dementia in 2023, explained that it was his wife Sue who first noticed something was wrong when he began struggling with his beloved cryptic crosswords. “She said, ‘Let’s go and see a doctor’, and that’s when they discovered I had the beginnings of dementia,” he said.
Doctors prescribed medication to slow the progression of the disease, and Tony insists it’s not something he dwells on. “I forget it’s there. I don’t think about it. I just get on with life,” he said, adding that he’s proud to be a voice for others. “I’ve had people stop me in the street and thank me – it helped their loved ones feel less ashamed.”
Despite the diagnosis, Tony is now in the middle of his Great Farewell Tour, performing in cities across the UK including Milton Keynes, Hull and Solihull. He also recently received the prestigious Icon Award at the 2025 O2 Silver Clef Awards, honouring his six-decade-long career.
“I’m still here, still singing, still smiling,” Tony said with a grin.
