Billy Joel cancels upcoming shows after being diagnosed with brain disorder
Billy Joel has cancelled his upcoming concerts following a recent diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus.
The announcement was made Friday in a statement shared across his social media accounts.
The statement said the condition has been 'exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,' the statement read.
The 'Piano Man' singer, 76, is currently receiving treatment.
'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period,' the statement said.
'Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritising his health.'
Normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH, is caused when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside a person's skull and presses on the brain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It mostly occurs in people over the age of 65.
That fluid tends to take up a little more space in older adults because brain volume shrinks as a normal part of the aging process, said Doctor Wajd Al-Holou, a neurosurgeon at the University of Michigan Health.
Memory loss, incontinence and trouble walking are also common. Patients can have trouble lifting their feet, putting them at risk for stumbling and falling.
While the disorder can look like dementia, a key difference is that NPH is often treatable and sometimes reversible if caught early, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Joel said in a statement that he was 'sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.'
All the cancelled shows were in America except for two shows in Edinburgh and Liverpool in the UK.
This is not the first time the 'Uptown Girl' singer adjusted a tour due to health issues.
In March, he announced that he would postpone a tour for four months because of a 'medical condition.' The condition was not specified.
In February, Joel fell during a performance in Uncasville, Connecticut.
In a video posted to TikTok on Feb. 23, the musician appears to throw his microphone and microphone stand at the crowd after wrapping up a song before losing his balance and falling onto his side. Joel rolled onto his back and laid there for a second, before appearing to attempt to get up on his own.
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Billy Joel's daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, says her father 'continues to regain his strength' amid his battle with a brain disorder. The 76-year-old musician revealed this week that he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, which has caused problems with his hearing, vision and balance. A statement posted on his Instagram read: '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.' Joel is currently undergoing treatment, and doctors have advised that performing would harm his health at this time. The statement continued: 'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing 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 prioritising 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.' Joel added his own message to fans, saying: 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.' According to 'Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside your skull and presses on your brain. This condition is most likely in people over 65. It's often treatable and sometimes even reversible.' Subsequently, Joel cancelled his tour, which included 17 dates in North America and England. Alexa Ray - whose mother is 71-year-old model Christie Brinkley - has since provided an update on her father's progress. The 39-year-old offspring of The Piano Man captioned a painting of a father and daughter on Instagram: 'SOUND UP. We love you and we got you, Pop! 'I just wanted to thank you all for the beautiful outpouring of love and support amid the recent news of My Father's health diagnosis,' Alexa Ray, who Billy shares with ex Christie Brinkley, continued. 'My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I've ever known … and he's entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength. 'The genuine care, empathy, and concern from everyone means so much to him … it means a lot to me, too.' She concluded her post by sharing the lyrics to Billy's morbid 1993 track, 'Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)', which he penned for Alexa Ray. She added: 'Someday We'll All Be Gone / But Lullabies Go On And On / They Never Die / That's How You And I Will Be. 'The music continues… All My Love, Alexa Ray.' The Uptown Girl hitmaker also has Della, nine, and Remy, seven, with fourth wife Alexis Roderick.
