Billy Joel Shares Heartbreaking Health Update After Brain Disorder Surgery

Billy Joel shared a heartbreaking health update more than a year after announcing his brain disorder diagnosis — revealing that he is not only unable to perform right now, but also that he can no longer drive.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on October 15, the “Piano Man” singer, 77, addressed the possibility of returning to the stage. Joel was forced to cancel his 2025 tour after learning he has normal pressure hydrocephalus. The brain disorder involves cerebrospinal fluid buildup in the brain’s ventricles; he recently underwent surgery to install a shunt in his brain to help drain the excess fluid.

“Well, my health is good,” Joel told THR while discussing an upcoming Gooding Christie auction of more than 70 motorcycles from his collection.

After explaining that hydrocephalus affects balance, memory, vision, and hearing, he explained, “But I’m OK. They call it a brain disorder, but it’s not that serious. It’s just something that affects your balance mostly.”

At this point, however, it’s unclear whether Joel will return to the stage. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I have to take a series of tests before I know.”

Joel then admitted, “But I can’t drive right now. I’m not allowed to drive. And I can’t do performances because what the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it’s like you’re getting a concussion.”

The “Uptown Girl” star explained that it’s the volume of the music during concerts that’s the issue.

“Rock ‘n’ roll is loud, man. Rock ‘n’ roll made me deaf already,” he said. “So it’s the lighting, the sound, the stress of the show, the audience, the energy of the performance. There’s a lot going on when you’re onstage. And they said, ‘Well, you really shouldn’t be doing that right now.’ So they have to test me further to see if I can go back and do performing again, which I would like to be able to do.”

During a September interview with SiriusXM, Joel said that the shunt surgery “improved things.” He shared, “My memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better.” Additionally, he is doing physical therapy and “whatever it is they tell me to do because I don’t want to lose it.”

He also stressed, “People have heard, ‘Oh, he’s got a brain disorder.’ And I’m OK. I just want people to know: Don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here — I’m still here.”