Legendary Radio Star Bravely Shares Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: ‘I’ve Been Incredibly Lucky’
Radio legend Tom Barnard has bravely revealed that he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Barnard, 74, spent nearly four decades at Minneapolis rock station KQRS, where he hosted the highest-rated morning show in America, according to the Radio Hall of Fame, to which he was inducted in 2017.
Barnard left KQRS in 2022, but still hosts his “Tom Barnard Podcast,” where he first shared his diagnosis on March 20, 2026. The following day, he acknowledged on Facebook that Alzheimer’s is “not a great diagnosis,” but vowed to keep hosting his podcast with help from his family.
On March 24, Barnard told WCCO Radio host Chad Hartman that he’s doing “phenomenally well” with the news, in part because he’s been experiencing some success after two months on a breakthrough treatment and because he’s so grateful to have lived a “magnificent life.”
Tom Barnard Says He Thinks His Alzheimer’s Treatments Are Helping
In his interview with Hartman, Barnard said he “used to remember everything,” but sought help with his wife, Kathryn Brandt, when his memory began to fade. She found a cutting-edge clinic in Florida, he said, which has developed a treatment for Alzheimer’s that has given him some hope.
Alzheimer’s Disease is “the most common form of dementia, a brain disorder that slowly destroys a person’s memory and thinking skills,” according to the National Institute on Aging. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., and experts estimate six million Americans are living with different stages of the disease.
While telling Hartman an old story about running into KISS singer Gene Simmons at a local deli, Barnard said he couldn’t remember the rocker’s name earlier in the day. But it eventually came to him, which Barnard said “would not have happened before I did this treatment.”
When Barnard announced his diagnosis with Brandt by his side on the podcast, she said that “he can still drive, he’s still self-sufficient for the most part” and that though they’re not expecting huge improvements from his treatment, they’re hoping it will keep the disease from getting worse.
Tom Barnard Has Been Overwhelmed by the Response to His Announcement
In the days since first announcing his diagnosis, Barnard has been amazed by the outpouring of love he’s received, telling Hartman, “I’ve heard from rock stars and movie stars and, you know, governors of states, a United States Senator. I’ve heard from so many people. It’s such an honor.”
He has also been touched by countless messages from fans and friends, calling the response “unbelievable.”
In a Facebook update on March 21, Barnard wrote, “Thank you all for your very kind thoughts. You have made my life very special. Alzheimer’s is not a great diagnosis but at this point in my life I am grateful for every single hour. If they can keep it where it is I will live to a pretty normal age. Let’s see how it goes. Thank you for the wonderful life you listeners have given my family.”
Barnard told Hartman he doesn’t want to complain about his diagnosis because he’s been so fortunate for so many years, explaining, “From the time I was 11 years old and started working, I’ve had great jobs. I’ve had so much fun, whether it was in the record industry, voiceover industry, being on the radio — I’ve been so incredibly lucky. Man, I can’t sit here and go, ‘Oh gee, poor me.’”
“We’ll see how it works out in the end,” he added. “And I’m very, very happy. Look, I have friends like you. Why the hell would I be in a bad mood? Makes no sense.”