Exclusive: Michael Bolton’s Daughters Share the Ups and Downs of Caring for Their Famous Father

It hasn’t been easy for anyone, including Michael’s grandchildren, who range in age from 9 to 15 years old. After Michael, 72, experienced a “significant personality change” after his brain resection surgery — a frightening but common side effect — Isa recalls her youngest son admitting, “I’m kind of scared of G-Pa.” Thankfully, due to his healing regimen, including yoga and physical therapy, Michael’s “funny” personality has largely returned. “The boys are more comfortable, but I do think that some children can be alarmed and disconcerted by those changes and that needs to be recognized as well,” she notes.

Taryn and Isa offer nonstop support to their father in his health journey. “We each help to honor him in various ways,” Isa says.

Michael Bolton/Stand Up for Cancer

Redefining the parent-child relationship

These changes can be just as tricky for adult children adjusting to a caregiving role.

“One of the interesting things about becoming an adult child caregiver to a parent is that the relationship dynamic does shift so profoundly,” Isa explains. “You have an opportunity to work through some things that were challenging and to recognize that you don’t have to be put into a position that maybe you had pigeonhole yourself into in the relationship. You can redefine the relationship in a new way.”

Taryn admits that caregiving fatigue is a real struggle. “At times, taking care of other people, you get burnt out, and you get lost, and you get sad, and you get lonely — all of these things,” she says.

“Checking out and giving yourself some time without caregiving is key,” Isa adds.

“Whether it’s therapy or time with friends, or time spent with your children…. For you to take care of yourself and to try to ‘fill up your cup,’ so to speak,” is essential.

A surprise silver lining for the daughters is witnessing their once workaholic dad — who, until 2023, spent nearly 80 percent of the year touring the world in concerts and appearing on TV and in movies — transitioning into a traditional grandfather.

“He’s been home for two years, recovering,” Isa says. “He’s with one of his children or multiple children and grandchildren for all of his meals. We probably had more meals with him in two years than we have had our entire [lives].”

The family now enjoys bonding over television shows, playing board games and quizzing each other on trivia. These quiet times mean everything to them.

“We don’t know how much time we’re ever going to have with anyone, and so I’ll ask my father random questions about things we’ve never discussed before, [which leads] into really interesting and profound conversations,” says Isa. The questions “give me a different and new nuanced understanding of my father as an adult man … and that’s a really beautiful thing.”