Billy Joel Says Doctors Told Him Loud Concerts Were Hurting His Brain

Billy Joel has always been a guy who lets the music do the talking. But this week, he spoke up about something much more personal. On his own SiriusXM channel, the 77-year-old revealed he’s been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a brain condition caused by fluid building up around the brain. And according to his doctors, the culprit was his job itself. All those loud rock and roll shows, night after night for decades, were hitting him like a concussion every time he walked off stage.

Joel was nervous about surgery, but after learning a brain shunt could help his balance and memory, he went through with it. He says it worked. His memory and balance have both improved, and he even made it back to a stage in January to sing a couple of songs with a Billy Joel cover band. His last full concert was back on February 22nd, 2025, and there’s no word yet on when he’ll tour again.

What matters most is what he said to the folks who’ve been worried about him: Don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I’m still here. After five decades of giving us songs like“Piano Man,”“Vienna,”and“She’s Always a Woman,”that’s a pretty good deal for all of us. Which Billy Joel song means the most to you? Let us know.