Updated October 16, 2026, 10:45 a.m. ET
Billy Joel is not sure he will be able to return to the stage.
The “Piano Man” singer, 77, said in an Oct. 15 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his doctors had advised him against performing and driving. He needs further testing to determine if he can return after his diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Joel explained that the disease “affects your balance, your memory, your vision, your hearing” but that he is still doing well.
“What the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you have a concussion,” Joel said of why he was advised to stop performing.
He highlighted loud music, lighting and the stress of a concert as concerns for his doctors, but said he still hoped to perform.
“So they need to test me more to see if I can go back and play again, which I would love to be able to do,” he said.
Joel also said he was “not allowed to drive.” He brushed off the diagnosis as “not that serious” and explained it as something that “mainly affects your balance.”
Billy Joel Motorcycle Collection Auction Takes Place Amid Health Concerns
His latest interview comes ahead of a Gooding Christie’s auction of more than 70 motorcycles from his collectionon November 20-21 at the Javits Center in New York. Joel cited his age and health as reasons for the sale, the proceeds of which he plans to use to support the Joel Foundation.
Billy Joel Diagnosis and Previously Revealed Brain Surgery
Joel announced his diagnosis and canceled his concerts scheduled for May 23, 2025. He shared his diagnosis in an Instagram post, which read “This condition has been exacerbated by recent concerts, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance.”
Hydrocephalus occurs when excess spinal fluid builds up in chambers of the brain called ventricles, which can cause them to enlarge, according to the Mayo Clinic. The normal form of pressure can affect walking, memory, and bladder control even when fluid pressure remains within a typical range.
In September, Joel revealed on SiriusXM’s The Billy Joel Channel that he had undergone surgery to implant a shunt. He said he initially resisted the procedure, but agreed after learning it “improves your balance and can help your memory.” “So I agreed to the shunt and had surgery. They implanted the shunt in my brain and it really made things better,” Joel explained.
Joel reported improvement afterward and said he was undergoing physical therapy while trying to reduce his stress.
“I’m fine. I just want people to know, don’t worry about me,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m still here.”
On September 17, his representative confirmed to USA TODAY that he was aliveafter an apparent Google search error sparked speculation about his death. A Google spokesperson told USA TODAY that the incorrect information has been removed.
Contributors: Melissa Ruggieri, David Oliver, USA TODAY
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