Latest news with #Bill Maher
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Joel Gives Health Update After Brain Disorder Diagnosis: ‘It Sounds a Lot Worse Than What I'm Feeling'
Billy Joel is opening up for the first time about his health after revealing he had been diagnosed with a brain disorder that forced him to cancel all of his upcoming concerts. 'I feel fine,' the singer told Bill Maher during his recent appearance on Maher's Club Random podcast. He added, 'My balance sucks. It's like being on a boat.' More from Rolling Stone Billy Joel Went to Extremes. A New Five-Hour Doc Shows How and Why Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes' Documentary: How to Watch Part One Online Billy Joel Details How 'Music Saved My Life' in 'And So It Goes' Documentary Trailer In May, Joel canceled the remainder of his tour — 17 dates that were to take him through stadiums in North America and England — after receiving a diagnosis for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The brain disorder is caused by the accumulation of excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles, leading to a range of cognitive and physical problems, particularly issues with gait, coordination, and bladder control. The disorder 'can affect several brain-related abilities, including thinking and concentrating, memory, movement and more,' according to the Cleveland Clinic. 'The symptoms of NPH look very much like those of dementia, but NPH is sometimes reversible.' While Joel told Maher that his condition is not yet 'fixed,' he said, 'it's being worked on.' Joel explained that the disorder 'used to be called water on the brain. Now it's called hydrocephalus — normal pressure hydrocephalus.' When asked what causes the disorder, Joel said, 'Nobody knows.' The musician's last concert on this tour run took place on Feb. 22 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Toward the end of the show, he fell on his back after throwing his microphone stand at a crew member. But he stood back up and finished the set. In March, Joel revealed he was taking a four-month break from the road due to a 'medical condition' that required surgery and physical therapy. He planned on returning to the stage on July 5 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 'While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first,' he told fans in a statement. It's unclear if the procedure was related to his normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis. 'I feel good,' Joel told Maher during the new interview, where they also discussed the two-part, five-hour documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, and more. 'They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Watch: Billy Joel reveals details of rare brain condition in first interview after diagnosis
Billy Joel has revealed the details of his rare brain disorder in his first interview since his diagnosis was announced. The 76-year-old musician has Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which is a build-up of fluid in the brain. The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain, which can result in damage. It can affect mobility; Joel told Bill Maher on his Club Random podcast that his "balance sucks" following his diagnosis, which forced him to cancel all upcoming performances and tour dates. "They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling," he added.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Billy Joel, 76, breaks silence on his brain disorder and how it forced him to step back from music
Billy Joel gave an emotional update on his health amid his battle with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). He revealed his diagnosis in May, and announced the cancellation of his forthcoming concerts following recent onstage struggles. The condition's impacted the 76-year-old's 'hearing, vision, and balance', and he opened up about his condition on Monday's Club Random With Bill Maher podcast, where he said: 'I feel fine. My balance sucks. It's like being a boat.' Joel said doctors could not identify the cause of the condition, and said: 'They don't know… I thought it must be from drinking.' Over the years, Joel's been open about his struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, as well as his battles with mental health, which at one point led to a suicide attempt amid career pressures. He said: '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.' According to Mayo Clinic: 'Hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in the brain, enlarging the ventricles and puts pressure on brain tissue, potentially causing damage and neurological symptoms.' Joel underwent targeted physical therapy as prescribed by his doctor and was 'advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period'. When diagnosed early, NPH could be effectively treated with surgery to drain excess fluid from the brain to relieve pressure and the symptoms. However, if left untreated, the condition could cause permanent damage later on. The musical legend also expressed his gratitude for the care he had received and thanked fans for their continued support. Joel said on Instagram: 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.' A statement added: 'Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.' Opening up: The singer used Instagram to share details of his diagnosis The post added: '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 new health update was after Joel previously postponed his tour by only four months 'due to a medical condition'. A statement on Instagram on March 11 revealed the tour had been halted after Joel underwent a recent surgery: '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. 'Joel is expected to make a full recovery.' The star posted: 'While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first. I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.' Multiple fans speculated if his medical issues were connected to a recent fall on stage. In late February, Joel suffered a nasty fall during a gig at the Mohegan Sun resort in Connecticut, which sparked major fear amongst fans. Footage from the show captured the Grammy-winner as he spun a mic stand before he hurled it across the stage - only to suddenly topple over moments later. Photos and clips of the fall captured Joel as he appeared to stumble before hitting the stage hard on his side, then rolling on to his back. Joel was helped up and managed to carry on with the rest of the show.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Billy Joel Says He Originally Thought His Brain Disorder Was Caused by ‘Drinking'
Billy Joel previously assumed his heavy alcohol consumption was to blame for the rare brain disorder he is battling. The legendary singer-songwriter, 76, appeared on the Monday, July 21, episode of Bill Maher's Club Random podcast and discussed his normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) diagnosis. After Maher, 69, asked Joel what the condition is caused by, the 'Piano Man' answered, 'Nobody knows. They don't know.' 'I thought it must be from drinking,' added the musician, who has previously struggled with alcohol. 'But you don't drink,' Maher quipped, to which Joel responded, 'Not anymore, but I used to like a fish.' According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, 'NPH occurs if the normal flow of CSF throughout the brain and spinal cord is blocked in some way. This may be due to past injury, bleeding, infection, brain tumor, or surgery on the brain, or the cause is often not known. When excess CSF fluid builds up in the ventricles, they enlarge and press against nearby brain tissue. This extra fluid and pressure can lead to brain damage.' Joel said his condition has not been 'fixed' but is 'still being worked on.' 'I feel fine,' he told Maher. 'My balance sucks. It's like being on a boat.' Despite the balance issues, the 'Vienna' hitmaker said he feels 'good.' 'They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling,' he remarked. The five-time Grammy winner also spoke to People on Monday, making it clear he doesn't want the public to stress about his health following the release of part one of his two-part HBO documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, on July 18. 'I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I'm okay,' he told the outlet. 'What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it. I'm doing my best to work with it and to recover from it.' 'I just wanted to let people know, don't worry about me being deathly ill or anything,' he added. In May, Joel revealed his diagnosis via a social media statement letting fans know he would have to cancel multiple concert dates. 'This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,' the statement on his Instagram read. 'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.' Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Billy Joel speaks out on 'scary' brain disorder, doesn't want fans to worry
Billy Joel doesn't want his fans to worry about his health following the brain disorder diagnosis which caused him to take a step back from the music industry. The "Uptown Girl" singer revealed his normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) diagnosis in May. NPH affects his vision, hearing and balance, according to a statement Joel released on social media at the time. Despite the "scary" diagnosis, Joel, 76, admitted he's doing everything he can to work with the brain condition. "I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I'm okay," Joel told People magazine. "What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it. I'm doing my best to work with it and to recover from it." While he said the diagnosis was "disturbing," he reassured fans not to be concerned about his health. "It was scary, but I'm okay," he said. "I just wanted to let people know, don't worry about me being deathly ill or anything." "It was scary, but I'm okay," he said. "I just wanted to let people know, don't worry about me being deathly ill or anything." During a recent appearance on Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast, Joel said his balance has been most affected by the diagnosis. "I feel fine. My balance sucks. It's like being a boat," he told the former stand-up comedian. He noted that doctors have little understanding of the cause of NPH. "They don't know … I thought it must be from drinking," he told Maher. "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," Joel, 76, announced his NPH diagnosis in May, and said that the condition had been "exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance." The statement at the time continued, "Under his doctor's instructions, 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." NPH is a condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. This condition is most likely to occur in people over age 65. Treating this condition involves surgery to implant a shunt to drain excess fluid from the inside of the skull, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Joel canceled all of his tour dates earlier this year to recover from a "recent surgery and to undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors." The "We Didn't Star the Fire" musician married his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, during a surprise wedding on July 4, 2015. The couple has two daughters together.
