Billy Joel, the best-selling singer and songwriter behind 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 show in the run—to which, it appears, he would commute via the Long Island Railroad—went down last July, after which Joel began plans for a two-year, multi-country tour where he would have been joined by superstars such as Stevie Nicks, Sting, and Rod Stewart.
The tour was expected to kick off in April, but its opening show in Milwaukee, WI, along with seven subsequent dates, were postponed in March.
According to a statement 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 doctor’s instructions,” the statement continues, “Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.”
“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for your understanding,” 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.
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