Billy Joel Cancels All Concerts Following Brain Disorder Diagnosis

Billy Joel, the best-selling singer and songwriter in the back of chart-toppers like “Uptown Girl” and “Piano Man,” announced Friday that he is canceling an upcoming large-scale concert tour after a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, a disorder in which an accumulation of fluid near the brain causes issues with movement and cognition. The condition was aggravated by his performance schedule, a statement from Joel says, so he’s pausing all public appearances for now while he works to recover.

The 76-year-old Long Island resident, whose career began in the early 1970s, wrapped up a record-breaking residency at Madison Square Garden in 2024, where he’d played around once a month since 2013. Billy Joel’s 150th display within the run—to which, apparently, he would go back and forth by way of the Long Island Railroad—went down ultimate July, and then Joel started plans for a two-year, multi-country excursion the place he would had been joined by means of superstars akin to Stevie Nicks, Sting, and Rod Stewart.

The excursion was once anticipated to kick off in April, however its opening display in Milwaukee, WI, at the side of seven next dates, have been postponed in March.

According to a remark posted to Joel’s social media accounts, “Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance.”

“Under his physician’s directions,” the statement continues, “Billy is present process explicit bodily remedy and has been steered to chorus from appearing all over this restoration duration. Billy is grateful for the very good care he’s receiving and is absolutely dedicated to prioritizing his well being. He is thankful for the fortify from fanatics all over this time and appears ahead to the day when he can as soon as once more take the level.”

(L-R) Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks carry out onstage at SoFi Stadium on March 10, 2023 in Inglewood, California.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our target market, and thanks in your figuring out,” the statement concluded. (A representative for Joel referred Vanity Fair to the public statement, but did not provide additional comment.)

According John Hopkins Medical, NPH occurs when an excess of cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain, causing them to enlarge and cause pressure to nearby brain tissue. Symptoms include sudden struggles with balance and walking, mood changes and confusion, and difficulty answering questions. Surgical intervention is typically used to release the fluid, followed by therapies to help the patient regain mobility and cognition. When diagnosed swiftly, a full recovery is often possible.