Neil Diamond makes rare live appearance to sing 'Sweet Caroline' at Broadway musical

The audience on the opening night of the Broadway show, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, got the surprise of their life with a special performance from the one and only Neil Diamond himself.

The legendary singer-songwriter treated theatregoers to a rare post-retirement performance of one of his best-loved songs, 'Sweet Caroline'.

Wearing a metallic python print jacket and a roll-neck jumper, the superstar stood in a box in the Broadhurst Theatre for the impromptu singalong.

The 81-year-old held onto a wireless microphone as he belted out the lyrics, while the audience joyfully sang along.

The rare performance marked the crooner's first time singing in his hometown of New York since 2017.

Ahead of his surprise curtain-call singalong, Diamond walked the red carpet with his wife, Katie McNeil, and entered the theatre to a standing ovation.

Diamond retired from touring in January 2018 after revealing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and has only given a handful of performances since.