Neil Diamond gives surprise performance at his Broadway show nearly 5 years after retiring

Good times never seemed so good for the Neil Diamond fans who attended opening night of the singer's Broadway show and found themselves watching a surprise performance from Diamond himself.

The 81-year-old singer-songwriter announced his retirement from touring nearly five years ago. But he performed again Sunday evening, treating an audience already in the mood for some Neil Diamond tunes with a performance of "Sweet Caroline" from a balcony of Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre, where "A Beautiful Noise" opened that night.

"Welcome to Broadway @neildiamond!" the show's Instagram captioned a video of Diamond singing. "We’re feeling so good! so good! so good!"

"A Beautiful Noise" tells Diamond's life story – from being raised by immigrants in Brooklyn to his meteoric rise in the music industry – with his own music as the soundtrack.

In January 2018, Diamond announced he was retiring from the road due to Parkinson's disease and canceled the third leg of his 50th Aanniversary tour. In August of that year, the musician told the Associated Press he hoped to be able to perform live again one day.

“Well, I’m doing pretty well. I’m active. I take my meds. I do my workouts. I’m in pretty good shape. I’m feeling good. I want to stay productive. I still have my boys. I just can’t do the traveling that I once did, but I have my wife there supporting me (and) friends,” he said.

“It does have its challenges, but I’m feeling good and I feel very positive about. I’m feeling better every day,” he added. “Just dealing with it as best I can, and just keep the music coming.”

Since then, Diamond has sporadically surprised audiences, including a one-song performance at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2018 and the following month for firefighters battling a blaze near his Colorado home.

Diamond told USA TODAY in 2018 he was not sure he could perform more than one song at the moment, but added: “The only way I could find out is to actually do it.”

Interview: Neil Diamond talks living and performing with Parkinson's Disease, attempting a residency

“But I think I can and I will give it a try at some point,” he added. “I’m glad to still be around. The fact that I’m still singing well is a bonus and I hope to continue doing it, but in a format that I can handle.”

And on March 9, 2020, he took the stage at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where he was honored at the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala benefit.

According to People and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Diamond performed some of his greatest hits like “Hello Again,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Love on Rocks,” “I Am…I Said" and "September Morn."

“I love the chemistry with the audience and myself. That’s part of the thrill of the whole thing. There’s a little magic involved in it,” Diamond said in 2018. “I’m just going to keep on keeping on, and that’s about it.”

“The thing I love most about live performing is that it’s very much in the moment. It’s just something that you really can’t describe,” he continued. “You just have to be there and let the moment happen. Let yourself connect with the audience. Let that relationship with the audience express itself. It’s a powerful tool.”

Contributing: Charles Trepany

More: Neil Diamond changes 'Sweet Caroline' to coronavirus PSA

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Neil Diamond 'Sweet Caroline' live: See surprise Broadway performance