Billy Joel is speaking directly to fans worried about his health after brain surgery and a diagnosis that forced him to cancel concerts. The 77-year-old singer says he’s doing okay, though his balance remains a problem as he continues to recover from normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Joel shared the update during a call-in appearance on his SiriusXM channel this week, discussing the improvements he noticed after surgery, the symptoms he’s still managing, and the medical advice keeping him away from the stage.
Billy Joel Says His Brain Disorder ‘Sounds A Lot Worse Than It Actually Is’
During Tuesday’s appearance on “The Billy Joel Channel”, Joel addressed the concern surrounding his diagnosis. “I know people are worried about me because they read that I have a brain disorder, which sounds a lot worse than it actually is,” he told listeners.
The “New York State of Mind” singer reassured fans while acknowledging that he is still experiencing difficulties. “I’m okay,” he said, before adding that his “balance isn’t that good.”
Joel also revealed that he had “lost a little bit of my hearing.” However, he suggested that his age and “the loud volume” of music throughout decades of touring could have contributed to that change, rather than attributing it entirely to his brain condition.
He returned to listeners’ concerns as he continued the conversation. “I want people to not have to worry about me. I’m okay, and I appreciate your call,” he stated.
The appearance followed his disclosure last month that he had undergone surgery to relieve some of his symptoms.
His Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Diagnosis Forced Concert Cancellations
Joel publicly revealed his normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis in May 2025. At the time, he canceled his concerts and said doctors had advised him not to perform until he recovered. Normal pressure hydrocephalus involves enlarged ventricles, the fluid-filled spaces deep inside the brain.
According to the Mayo Clinic, this form of hydrocephalus is most common in older adults. It can affect walking, memory, and bladder control, even though cerebrospinal fluid pressure remains within a typical range. The clinic lists poor coordination and balance among the symptoms of hydrocephalus in older adults. Walking difficulties can include shuffling or feeling as though the feet are stuck.
Joel has described his own difficulty staying steady, along with improvements in memory and everyday functioning following treatment.
Billy Joel Describes The Symptoms That Led To Brain Surgery
Last month, Joel recalled the unsettling sensation he experienced before agreeing to the procedure. “[Beforehand] I had this sense of being on a boat, like this rocking motion,” he said. “I wasn’t steady on my feet.”
Doctors recommended a shunt to help address the excess cerebrospinal fluid. Joel said he agreed to the surgery and noticed changes afterward. “I agreed to do the shunt, and I had the surgery, and they implanted a shunt in my brain, and it actually improved things.”
The “Piano Man” singer described improvements across several areas, not just in his ability to stand or walk. “My memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better,” he shared.
Joel is continuing physical therapy as part of his recovery and said he is following his medical team’s instructions.
How A Shunt Helps Drain Excess Fluid
The procedure Joel described uses an implanted drainage system to move excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to another part of the body.
The Mayo Clinic describes a shunt as a flexible tube equipped with a one-way valve. The valve helps control the speed and direction of drainage. One end of the tube is placed inside a brain ventricle. The remaining tubing runs beneath the skin, usually toward the abdomen or sometimes the chest, where the body can absorb the fluid.
He has not announced a date for returning to concerts in the update provided.
Doctors Warned Joel About Continuing To Perform
Joel also shared the warning that led him to step away from the stage. According to the singer, doctors told him performing was causing “something like a concussion every time I did a show.” He said they warned that he “could be losing more brain cells the more shows I did.”
Joel explained that the advice changed how he approached his concert schedule. “I realized that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now,” he told his SiriusXM listeners.
For now, he is working on rehabilitation and following his doctors’ guidance about avoiding too much stress. “They don’t want me to stress too much, so I’m doing physical therapy. I’m doing whatever it is they tell me to do,” he declared.
