Billy Joel feels 'good' after brain disorder diagnosis

BBC News

3 days ago

Billy Joel says he is feeling "good", two months on from announcing his diagnosis with rare brain condition Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).Speaking on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, the five-time Grammy winner said his condition was "still being worked on", and he was struggling with his balance."I feel good, they keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling," said the singer-songwriter.Joel was forced to cancel a series of concert dates in May this year, after his doctors told him that his condition had been "exacerbated by recent performances".
NPH is described by the NHS as an uncommon and poorly understood condition that most often affects people over the age of 60.The condition causes a build-up of fluid in the brain, which can affect hearing, vision and mobility.In the original statement shared on the 76-year-old singer's Instagram, Joel was said to be undergoing "specific" physical therapy for his condition, and that he was "fully committed to prioritising his health".His wife, Alexis Joel, wrote in a separate post that the family were "grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received", and that they were hopeful for a swift recovery.Joel called off 17 planned performances in North America and Europe across 2025 and 2026, including stadium shows at Murrayfield in Edinburgh and Anfield in Liverpool.
Joel, who's known for hits including Uptown Girl and Piano Man, has regularly been on tour in recent years. He ended a record-breaking decade-long residency at Madison Square Garden in New York last year.His final performance was in February 2025, when he fell on his back during his performance after throwing a microphone stand into the crowd.He announced a postponement of his tour shortly afterwards, citing a medical condition that required him to undergo physical therapy as part of his recovery from a recent surgery.