Paul Anka, 84, shares plans for retirement after decades-long career

Paul Anka may not be ready to retire, but he knows his “day is coming.”

The singer, 84, whose career spans an astonishing sixty-plus years, told Page Six exclusively that he has offered advice to “all my buddies who are not singing well anymore. I say, ‘Keep your dignity and stop shortchanging the consumer and ride out a hero and a winner.’”

However, it doesn’t seem like that day is coming anytime soon for the “Puppy Love” singer.

His voice is still powerfully strong, and he’s maintained a touring schedule that sees him flying all over the world.

Anka said he learned a lot by hanging out with The Rat Pack in Las Vegas, and what he learned was what not to do.

“I never became a drinker,” he told us. “I never became a smoker…I made up my mind that if I were going to continue to try and create…I gotta be in good health…and it’s paid off.”

The singer-songwriter happily shared his tips for good health.

“I drink olive oil,” he said. “I drink lemon juice at a certain time…I fast once a week. I exercise, [I do] what I have to do. That’s it. It’s pretty simple. It’s nothing new. It’s just that you have to respect the vessel and just do it.”

He also stressed that he doesn’t want any toxicity in his life.

“I’m in this passage where I don’t want any people to put any stress in my life,” he revealed. “Go away! Don’t need you. That’s the big killer.”

Meanwhile, Anka has been going through a career renaissance for the last few years, which started when teens discovered his 1959 ballad, “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” and shared it on TikTok.

“It broadened the parameters,” he said, adding that he played a recent show in Mexico in front of 10,000 people and “30% of them are just teenagers with albums and screaming.”

HBO Max is also releasing “Paul Anka: His Way,” a documentary, on Dec. 1.

The title is a reference to Anka having heard a French song, buying the rights and then writing English lyrics for a song he called “My Way,” which became a huge hit for Frank Sinatra.

Anka was only 24 years old when he wrote the lyrics.

The documentary also delves into how Anka wrote the “Tonight Show” theme song and ended up giving the show’s original host, Johnny Carson, half the publishing rights.

He has no regrets about doing that.

“It was found money,” he explained, estimating that he was making a million dollars a year from it.

“Some stupid number,” he said, adding that he dubbed it the “School Song” because it paid for his six children’s college educations.

Anka, who has written songs for artists like Tom Jones and Michael Jackson, also has a new album coming out early next year called “Inspirations of Life and Love.”