Billy Joel says 'I'm not dying' after cancelling tour due to brain condition
Billy Joel was forced to cancel his entire 2025 tour, having been diagnosed with a brain disorder known as normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The star was due to take the stage at Murrayfield Stadium on June 6, a gig which had previously been postponed to give him time to recover from surgery.
The 'Uptown Girl' singer has been diagnosed with NPH, which is a condition that causes a build-up of fluid in the brain. The 76-year-old's team shared a statement with fans on May 23, apologising for the cancellation of his tour.
It said that his brain condition"has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance.' And the singer added: "I am sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience and thank you for understanding.'
However, since then the star has been quiet, and was notably absent from the screening of his new documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' last Wednesday, June 4, at Tribeca Film Festival.
Despite his absence, he relayed a message to the crowd through the film's co-director, Susan Lacy.
'We know Billy wishes he were here tonight, and he asked us to convey that to you all.
"In fact, he said, 'Getting old sucks, but it's preferable to getting cremated,'' Lacy told the audience, reported Deadline.
He also assured his fans that 'he will be back.'
The two founders of Tribeca Film Festival- Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal- also acknowledged Joel's health condition and absence.
Rosenthal said: 'Billy wanted to be with us tonight, but as you may have heard, he's dealing with a health issue and had to postpone his performances, including this one tonight.
"We know you will join us in wishing him a speedy recovery.'
De Niro added: 'He's our piano man, a wonderful, integral part of the heartbeat of our city.
"Tonight, we get to see the man behind the music and behind the legend. You're in for a real treat.'
According to outlet NJ, radio host Howard Stern recently had a conversation with Billy Joel, in which the star urged him to let fans know that he 'is not dying'.
During a recent episode of The Howard Stern Show on Sirius XM, Stern discussed a recent dinner he had with Joel.
Stern said: 'He does have issues. But he said to me- so I'm not saying anything crazy- 'Yeah, you can tell people: I'm not dying.' He wants people to know that.
"He's got to deal with some medical stuff. But he was delightful. We had a great time with the wives. Billy's doing okay.'
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