Billy Joel reveals tragic diagnosis as he cancels all tour dates through next year

Yahoo

25-05-2025

The Piano Man is taking a break.
Billy Joel, 76, has canceled all tour dates amid a new health diagnosis.
The 'Uptown Girl' singer revealed the shocking news via social media on Friday, saying he has been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus.
The disorder happens when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain, disrupting cognitive functioning.
Joel's condition has become worse due to his recent concert performances, 'leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,' his lengthy Instagram announcement read.
The doctor has ordered the 'We Didn't Start the Fire' hitmaker to 'refrain from performing during this recovery period' as Joel is undergoing specific physical therapy under his medical team's instructions.
NPH is a rare condition that affects about 0.2% of people between the ages of 70 and 80 and around 6% of those over 80.
When the body can't circulate or reabsorb CSF properly, it accumulates and can cause pressure inside the skull. Permanent damage can happen if CSF keeps accumulating, forcing the brain to compress.
Symptoms are similar to dementia patients and include difficulty walking, cognitive issues like memory difficulties or emotional changes, and urinary incontinence. In some cases, NPH is reversible.
Joel's diagnosis doesn't mean he's out for good, though.
The announcement ended on a positive note, with his team telling fans that Joel 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.'
The five-time Grammy winner also released a statement to his fans.
'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,' Joel shared.
Those with tickets to any of Joel's canceled shows, which include dates in New York, New Orleans, Toronto, Santa Clara, California, Salt Lake City, Washington, DC, and Liverpool, will get automatically refunded to the original form of payment used to purchase the tickets.
The Post reached out to Joel's rep for additional comment.
The 'New York State of Mind' singer had already postponed several tour dates in March due to a 'medical condition.'
'The current tour will be postponed for four months to allow him to recover from recent surgery and to undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors,' a statement from his team on March 11 read.
At the time, the music man said that 'while I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first.'
He added, 'I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.'
Joel has had a rough year.
In February, the star fell during his concert in Connecticut, and the accident was caught on video by a fan.
Joel appeared to stumble while on the stage before falling backward and landing on his side.
Despite the blunder, he recovered and continued on with the show.
Joel's wife, Alexis Roderick, has also struggled with her health in recent months and spoke out about suffering from endometriosis earlier this month.
The condition, in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causes Roderick chronic pain, which she was forced to deal with while taking care of her and Joel's two young children while Joel was on tour.
The pair, who married in 2015, have two daughters: Della, 9, and Remy, 7.
Roderick opened up to Fox News Digital about how Joel supported her as she struggled to get a diagnosis.
'He's extremely supportive,' she shared. 'So picking up where I leave off and covering my deficits during that time was huge. We're just always researching — he'll email me articles like, 'Did you know that this happens with endometriosis?'
'Never in a million years would I think that he would be sending me that kind of stuff, but when you're watching someone suffer, you pick up. You have to. It's what we do. We're a family.'
Besides Roderick, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has been married to Elizabeth Weber, Katie Lee and Christie Brinkley.
Joel and the supermodel were married from 1985 to 1994, and they have one daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, 39.
Brinkley discusses hot topics of their marriage in her memoir 'Uptown Girl,' including those affair rumors. She also blamed his drinking for the end of their relationship.
Just last year, Joel ended his record-breaking 10-year residency at Madison Square Garden.
He played his last show in July, marking his 150th concert at the legendary venue.